From the western Balkans to the greater Balkans area: The external conditioning of "awkward" and "integrated" states

A much-needed conceptual analysis of the dominant socializing dynamics adopted by European agents, in particular the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, in the Balkans is presented. It is shown that the process of external conditioning of the Balkans has been underwritten by the export of a particular framework of interstate interactions. This pattern of orders is referred to as the "European zone of peace" and connotes the patterns of relations of a security community, underwritten by the desecuritization of interstate interactions. It is suggested that this dynamic outlines the socialization of aspect of external agency and the hegemonic peace relationship.