Analyzing Youth Perspectives on Soft Security: A Comparative Study of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia

Abstract

In recent decades, security threats have progressively shifted from traditional, state-centric paradigms to more complex, hybrid forms, thereby elevating the significance of so-called "soft security" issues in both academic and policy discourse. Against this backdrop, the present study aims to examine and compare the perceptions of young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia regarding these emerging security challenges. Specifically, the research focuses on non-military risks, including economic insecurity, organized crime, corruption, and the impacts of climate change. The younger generations in the Western Balkans are increasingly reconfiguring their understandings of security in response to the rising prominence of hybrid threats that transcend conventional military frameworks. To explore how socio-political factors—such as Croatia’s accession to the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s fragmented governance structure—shape these perceptions, the study employs a comparative cross-sectional survey design. A total of 308 young respondents participated in the research, comprising 203 individuals from Bosnia and Herzegovina and 105 from Croatia. The findings underscore the critical importance of formulating and implementing targeted policy measures aimed at addressing the specific concerns of youth, enhancing civic literacy, and fostering trust in governmental institutions. Moreover, the study highlights the pivotal role of youth engagement in the development of enduring security architectures in the Western Balkans, situating these perceptions within the broader regional security context. While the research does not claim statistical generalizability, the identified trends provide an essential foundation for ongoing monitoring of youth attitudes. These insights are instrumental for devising effective strategies to bolster the resilience of the Western Balkans' security frameworks and to promote sustainable, inclusive approaches to regional stability.