European Integration and Security in South Eastern Europe

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of regional integration on Albanian ethno-nationalism in South Eastern Europe. Τhe process of European regional integration has created new opportunities and outlets for ethno-nationalists to forward their maximal goals by alternative political and non-political means. We explore the impact of European regional integration on the transformation of Albanian ethno-nationalism based on the analysis of three major geo strategic variables: the development of regional political networks, extremist/terrorist networks, and population movements. The analysis suggests that the process of European regional integration influences the formation of alternative ethno-nationalist manifestations and determines the strategies of ethno-political actors to a considerable degree.