Dilemmas of the Foreign Policy of Small States in the Western Balkans: Between Integration and Geopolitical Insecurity

This paper analyzes the foreign policy dilemmas of small states in the Western Balkans within the context of an increasingly fragmented and multipolar global order. In this environment, where power is distributed among the United States of America, the European Union, Russia, China, and Turkey, the small Balkan states face complex and often contradictory choices. On one hand, they view European and Euro-Atlantic integration as the strategic horizon of their development and security, while on the other hand they remain vulnerable to the economic, political, and cultural influences of other powers. The paper is based on a constructivist theoretical framework that emphasizes the importance of identity, perceptions, and interactions in shaping the foreign policy interests of small states. Methodologically, it employs a comparative analysis of six states in the region: Kosovo, Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, drawing on official documents, national strategies, public discourses, and academic literature. The central argument is that although small states face structural constraints and depend on great powers, through flexible diplomacy, multilateral engagement, and balancing strategies they manage to create presence and minimize uncertainties. The paper contributes to the literature on the foreign policy of small states by highlighting the interconnection between security, integration, and economic development in the context of the new international order.