Understanding the Factors Fuelling the Demand for Firearms in the Western Balkans – Research Findings and Recommendations
Understanding the Factors Fuelling the Demand for Firearms in the Western Balkans – Research Findings and Recommendations

Contributor(s): Alain Lapon (Editor), Juliana Buzi (Editor), Dragan Božanić (Editor), Tatjana Višacki (Editor)
Subject(s): Politics, Security and defense
Published by: The South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC)
Keywords: firearms demand; Western Balkan; civilian insecurity; cultural and social norms; institutional trust; small arms and light weapons; demand reduction strategies
Summary/Abstract: Civilian demand for firearms in the Western Balkans is driven by a complex interplay of personal insecurity, cultural inheritance, institutional distrust and the enduring legacy of past conflicts. This study provides a comprehensive, data-driven analysis of the factors influencing firearm ownership across Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. Commissioned by the South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC), it is intended for policymakers, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations, and international partners, offering insights into the motivations behind firearm acquisition and the conditions that sustain or mitigate demand.

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