Evaluation of Western Balkans policies of the European Union with a social constructivist approach

This study examines the Western Balkans policies of the European Union (EU) in the context of mutual interaction, logic of appropriateness, culture-identity and interests-actions that support social constructionism. The main purpose of the study is to investigate in what direction and to what extent the European Union has affected the Western Balkans through social constructivism. In this context, Eurobarometer results, regional secondary authors, regional opinion polls and interviews made about the countries of the region were included in the study. In the study, the reports of the EU institutions regarding the region between 1991-2021 were evaluated. Within this framework, European Commission Reports, European Union Summit Final Declarations, European Union Council Resolutions and European Parliament Reports were examined. In the light of these declarations of intent, the actions of the EU towards the Western Balkans are also presented. When the cases are examined, a perspective has been put forward that no Western Balkan countries are involved in actions and policies shaped by interests on the EU. The approach of the EU to the Western Balkans has been evaluated through the stages of identity, interests and actions in accordance with the social constructivist formula.