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Zapadni je Balkan pojam, koji je stvoren od strane Europske unije u njenom nastojanju definiranja područja jugoistoka Europe, koji bi joj se jednog dana trebao u potpunosti pridružiti. Pojam je, dakle, to koji obuhvaća Albaniju, Bosnu i Hercegovinu, Crnu Goru, Kosovo, Sjevernu Makedoniju i Srbiju. Prije ulaska Hrvatske u EU, ona je također potpadala pod Zapadni Balkan. Pojam je tokom svog postojanja, nešto više od dvadeset godina, naišao na brojne kritike i teško ga je uopće kao takvog odrediti, odnosno predstavlja li on možebitno toponim. Stoga ovaj rad nastoji predočiti složenost pitanja egzistencije samog pojma Zapadni Balkan. U svrhu izrade, provedena je i anketa među studentima geografije navedenog područja te su predstavljeni rezultati. Sumirajući rezultate može se reći kako pojam Zapadni Balkan nije toliko nepoznat, no ipak se sam Balkan češće koristi; pojam je određen od strane EU, ali ga obilježavaju i druge karakteristike. Većinski je pojam obilježen neutralnim iskustvima i različitim asocijacijama. Nakon ulaska svih zapadnobalkanskih država u EU očekuje se prestanak upotrebe ovoga pojma. The Western Balkans is a term created by the European Union in its effort to define the area of Southeast Europe that might join one day. The term therefore encompasses Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia and Serbia. Prior to Croatia's accession to the EU, it was also part of the Western Balkans. During the term's twentyyear existance, it has encountered numerous criticisms and it is difficult to determine if it is a toponym or not. Therefore, this paper presents the complex nature of the very concept of the Western Balkans. For the purpose of this research, a survey was conducted among students of geography in the Western Balkans area and the results were presented. Summarizing the results, it can be said that the term Western Balkans is not so comletely unknown, but the term „the Balkans“ is used more often; despite being defined by the EU, the term is characterized by other characteristics. The term is mostly characterized by neutral experiences and different associations. After the entry of all Western Balkan countries into the EU, the use of this term is expected to cease. |
