Border and Bordering Practices in an EU “Buffer Zone”: The Case of Serbia: Serbia’s Role in Border Governance and Migration Diplomacy in an EU Context

Abstract

The geographical expansion of the EU migration policies toward candidate countries in the Western Balkans is reshaping perceptions of borders—both as physical realities and socio-political constructs. Drawing on insights from the Critical Border Studies (CBS) framework, this article explores the externalization of migration and border management in the Western Balkans, with a particular focus on Serbia\u27s central position along the Balkan route. It examines Serbia\u27s role in border and migration governance beyond the asymmetrical dynamics of the EU accession process, considering the political and economic advantages of its \u27buffer zone\u27 status—where it safeguards the EU’s external borders while leveraging this position as a tool of migration diplomacy