Geopolitical Determinants of Macedonia as Part of the Balkan Instability

Abstract

Geopolitics is a relatively new scientific discipline that studies the relationship between the geographical and historical factors influencing the formation and functioning of the states (centres of power). The aim of this paper is to present geopolitical and geostrategic determinants of Macedonia. The author examines the question: Does the territory of Macedonia have the character of destabilizing the political situation in the Balkans, by typing in the paradigm of Balkan instability? The author has relied on the analysis of the Balkan scientists, mostly Serbian and Greek. It is essential to mention: Andrej Mitrović, MiloljubSretenović, MilenkoTešić, Radovan Pavić, Slavoljub B. Šušić, Alexander Demajo and Greek balkanist – Dimitri Poulakos. The author depictsthe geopolitical significance of Macedonia throughout the ages, and geostrategic importance of Macedonia in order to conclude that contemporary Macedonia faces numerous problems of economic, ethnic, legal and international nature. However, it seems that the Albanian ethnic factor as well as bi‑ethnicity of Macedonia are the most unstable elements in the current geopolitical situation of this territory.

Keywords

• geopolitics
• geostrategy
• fragmentation
• geopolitical actors
• strategic directions
• transbalkan