The return of conscription? Western Balkan defence policies in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

This paper analyses the impact of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine on conscription policies in Western Balkan countries—Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Employing the theoretical framework of the security dilemma, it examines how geopolitical tensions have shaped regional defence strategies, including shifts in conscription policy in Serbia and encouraged broader debates on recruitment and security preparedness in neighbouring countries. Serbia's decision to reinstate mandatory conscription illustrates how perceived threats and historical alliances amplify regional insecurity and revive militarization discourses. NATO-aligned countries such as Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia have refrained from reinstating conscription, opting instead to bolster their professional military forces through increased defence spending and recruitment efforts. Kosovo's security challenges, especially its tense relationship with Serbia, underscore the complexities faced by countries in the region, influencing internal debates on conscription. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, divergent entity-level alignments further complicate cohesive national defence policies.