Border and Bordering Practices in an EU “Buffer Zone”: The Case of Serbia

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's central position along the Balkan route. It examines Serbia's role in border and migration governance beyond the asymmetrical dynamics of the EU accession process, considering the political and economic advantages of its 'buffer zone' status—where it safeguards the EU’s external borders while leveraging this position as a tool of migration diplomacy.