The transition to market economies in the Western Balkan was accompanied by the collapse of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the struggle to form new nation states. Since 2008, the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC) has been promoting increased regional cooperation and convergence on EU's policies. The RCC has paid particular attention to raising public sentiments regarding current and future outcomes. This paper assesses how these sentiments have changed across time and country.
An analysis of the RCC’s annual survey of the sentiments of the population in the Western Balkans is initially undertaken. A review of theory and empirical studies is used to construct an eclectic model with which to understand the factors causing changes in public sentiments over time and across countries. This model is also used to explore whether the advent of COVID impacted public sentiments.
A modest improvement since 2014 in public sentiments in the region is evident. The degree of trust respondents have in their government is a major determinant of their sentiments. Given increases in the employment rate, educational attainment and trust in government in the region, the overall improvement in public sentiments is lower than expected. This may reflect the rise in the number of citizens contemplating emigration from the Western Balkans.
The analysis makes use of a neglected dataset to address the issue of changing citizen's sentiments in the Western Balkans and their consequences for the region's stability and prosperity.
