Konfrontation und Kooperation auf der „Balkanroute“
Confrontation and Cooperation on the “Balkan Route”

The Stream of Refugees and Regional Relations in the Western Balkans

Summary/Abstract: Refugees and migrants on the „Balkan route” are making a range of different experiences: From robbery and exploitation to help and support they are confronted with the best and the worst authorities and populations have to offer. All the countries along their way (Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia) have two things in common: Refugees are passing them in transit while their logistical capacities are regularly overburdened. Still there are specific differences in how these societies are dealing with the problem: Most obvious are the cases of Hungary and Serbia. Hungary is leading a repressive policy, successfully deterring the arrival of refugees. On the contrary Serbia’s tolerant approach led to an improvement of its reputation in Western liberal circles. It is argued that these differences are best explained by preferences of the respective political elites. As both countries are ruled by semi-authoritarian leaders their policies (and their grip on the media narrative) define to a large extent the public perception of the refugee crisis. In Croatia the political polarization between a center-left government and a nationalistic opposition leaves things in balance. The upcoming elections in early November 2015 will decide whether a repressive or a tolerant approach will prevail. Finally the conflicts and confusion the EU is undergoing because of the refugee crisis obviously have an impact on its reputation: The refugee crisis has become a crisis of Europe.

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