The Western Balkans: Environmental and Human Security

Given the plethora of environmental and other nonmilitary threats facing the Western Balkans, the main argument advanced in the following paper is to foster the linkages between human security and environment in such a way as to broaden conceptualization of security threats and risks. It is now clear that the environmental consequences of the Western Balkans conflict have caused much damage to poor peoples, and thus policy recommendations should focus on human security and vulnerability, together with the potential of environmental degradation causing overt large-scale violence. How well prepared are the Western Balkan states to deal with such threats as their common problems? Are they doomed to ask for external help from international organizations in order to reach any cooperation on these issues at all?