Turkey, Gulf States and Iran in the Western Balkans: more than the Islamic factor?

The article examines the influence of Turkey, the Gulf States and Iran in the Western Balkans and the role that Islam has been playing in the region since the 90 s. Starting from the idea that religion is a tool of soft power but also a vehicle for addressing other concerns, the main argument is that the aforementioned actors, use Islam as an instrument of foreign policy mixed with realpolitik. Special emphasis is given to Turkey, due to its traditional links with the Balkans through their common Ottoman past. The article also tries to show how the current projection of religion has severe repercussions in the region as it is directly linked with the issue of foreign fighters that present a new challenge for the Western Balkans.