About the Journal

In 2017, 25 years have passed since the first military (operational) missions by Spain in democracy and abroad. That intervention began on July 25, 1992, when the frigate Extremadura, within the WEU naval group, was entrusted with the mission of monitoring compliance with the sanctions imposed on the republics of Serbia and Montenegro at the beginning of the Yugoslav wars. These were years in which the Spanish Armed Forces experienced a surge in popularity compared to the 1980s, mainly due to their good performance in peace missions in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Beyond that, Spain played a prominent role throughout Southeast Europe. There were not only peace missions, but also diplomatic, political, journalistic, academic and cultural activity, which united Spain and the countries of the former Yugoslavia, as had not occurred in more than a hundred years of diplomatic relations.

From that choral experience a new generation of “Balkanists” emerged (journalists, academics, aid workers...) who opened a new path of knowledge between Spain and the Balkans, two European realities that were barely known. The Balkania magazine was the ratification of this geopolitical approach, and it was thanks to the impulse of the Spanish diplomat Javier Hergueta, who was deputy head of mission of the Spanish Embassy in Belgrade – and who during his stay was the first director of the Cervantes Institute of the Serbian capital – that this project was possible. That initial stage of the publication – edited by the Spanish Embassy in Belgrade – lasted two years and allowed for the publication of the first and only publication in Spanish dedicated strictly to Balkan studies. After a blank period, spanning from 2004 to 2010, the magazine was resurrected with the return of the Spanish diplomat to Belgrade, to follow an uninterrupted route marked by its initial vocation: to disseminate knowledge about Southeast Europe and forge a stable structure where converge experts and interested parties.

The publication has sought to address relevant topics, provide knowledge and an academic basis to break with the traditional prejudiced approach to which the region is condemned, saturated with long-range conflicts during the 20th century: the Balkan Wars, the First and Second Wars. World War and the Yugoslavian Secession Wars. Since 2010, the magazine has dealt with very diverse issues, praising the names of such renowned Spanish “Balkanists” as Carlos Flores Juberías, Francisco Veiga or Carlos Taibo. As well as offering a sounding board to local authors, translating their texts from ancient Serbo-Croatian to Spanish and, therefore, bringing Balkan studies closer to more than 500 million Spanish speakers.

Each issue is published annually, designed in the form of a monograph, to which not only “balkanists” in generic terms, but specialists in a specific area of ​​research are invited. The magazine seeks to offer depth and information, with fundamental bibliographical work – very useful for future research. The dissolution of Yugoslavia was the object of study and in some way its impact has marked other themes, such as the creation of new states and the polycentric division of the former Serbo-Croat (Serbian, Croat, Bosnian and Montenegrin), the identity conflicts between citizenship and ethnicity, the consequences of the transition on the democratization of the region and the European integration process. But the journal has also sought to take the pulse of the economic possibilities, with a special issue dedicated to business opportunities in the region, a volume produced with the help of Aitor José Mate, chief economic and commercial advisor at the Economic and Commercial Office of Spain in Belgrade; likewise, coinciding with the entry into force of the Law granting Spanish nationality to Sephardim originating in Spain, Balkania published an issue coordinated by the head of the Department of Iberian Studies at the University of Belgrade, Jelena Filipović, dedicated to culture Sephardic in the Balkans, which, furthermore, was not only presented in Belgrade, but also at the Sefarad-Israel Center in Madrid.

Starting in 2016, Casa Mediterráneo acquired the edition of the journal through the publication of two issues dedicated to North Macedonia and a miscellany of topics of interest, such as Romani culture in the Balkans, the environment and sociolinguistics. In 2017, the last issue was published, having brought together more than 70 articles, many of them translated into Serbian and English. All in all, it has been a productive stage, full of exchange and collaboration, for the good of Balkan studies.

Miguel Rodríguez Andreu (Miguel Roán)

Balkania Editor-in-chief

Focus

Balkania is an interdisciplinary academic publication dedicated to the study of the Balkan region. Its aim is to provide a forum for research and analysis of various historical, political, social, cultural, and economic aspects of Balkan countries. The journal seeks to foster a deep and nuanced understanding of the region, promoting dialogue among scholars, researchers, and professionals interested in the Balkans.

Scope

Target Audience: The journal is aimed at scholars, researchers, postgraduate students, professionals in the field of social and human sciences, and all those interested in Balkan studies.

Publication Frequency: The journal is published annually, typically at the end of the year.

Languages: Articles can be submitted in Spanish, English, and other languages relevant to the region, such as Serbian, Croatian, Bulgarian, Greek, Albanian, etc. Abstracts will be available in English to ensure greater international dissemination.

Review Process: The journal employs a rigorous double-blind peer review process to ensure the quality and relevance of the published articles. Each article is evaluated by at least one expert in the corresponding thematic area.

Access and Distribution: Balkania is open access, allowing free access to its content to promote the dissemination of knowledge. Distribution is carried out in both digital and print formats, ensuring its availability internationally.