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The Rise and Fall of Peacebuilding in the Balkans pp 173–202Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Local Views: Scepticism Towards Europe and Its Consequences

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Part of the book series: Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies ((RCS))

Abstract

This chapter considers Western Balkan citizens, whose critical, Eurosceptic views are frequently neglected in the analysis of EU enlargement processes. After a brief discussion of what is meant by Euroscepticism, it provides some evidence of its growth in the region and it offers an account of the main reasons for this trend. Finally, it examines the consequences of the rise of Euroscepticism. While there are no short-term, realistic alternatives to further integration into the EU, other options—most importantly developing closer ties with Russia—are increasingly debated locally. Overall, growing levels of Euroscepticism reflect frustration with the EU’s real and perceived failures to meet citizens’ expectations, rather than a radical rejection of the institutions and principles underpinning liberal peacebuilding and the process of European integration.

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  1. Department of Sociology and Social Research, University of Trento, Trento, Italy

    Roberto Belloni

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Belloni, R. (2020). Local Views: Scepticism Towards Europe and Its Consequences. In: The Rise and Fall of Peacebuilding in the Balkans. Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14424-1_7

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