I'd say it is more complex than this. I can recommend the book written by Marie-Janin Calic [0] which goes over the complicated history of Yugoslavia and makes

I'd say it is more complex than this. I can recommend the book written by Marie-Janin Calic [0] which goes over the complicated history of Yugoslavia and makes it a bit clearer why the Balkans is the way it is these days. But regarding your first sentence: definitely. If you listen closely you will often notice how Europeans mentally exclude the Balkans from whatever it is they are talking about. I think this sentiment has been especially felt when the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize given that apparently there have been no wars in Europe after WWII. [0] https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/24993 https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/24993