Since the violent breakup of Yugoslavia, Serbia has played a pivotal role in the Balkans as the largest of the post-Yugoslav nation-states. Over the past decade, the current Serbian regime has become an influential regional actor, employing a wide range of political, informational, economic, cultural, and security-related instruments to shape its strategic position in the region. Increasingly, Serbian regional policy is framed through the political concept of the “Serbian World” (Srpski svet), which refers to the idea of maintaining a unified political, cultural, and informational space linking Serbia with Serb communities in neighbouring states. 

This report examines the concept of the Serbian World as a framework for Serbian influence in the Western Balkans, promoted by political elites indirectly and more directly by affiliated actors in Serbia and region. While not an official state policy, the idea functions as a powerful narrative tool, blending nationalism, historical revisionism, and strategic influence to sustain Serbia’s regional leverage and consolidate domestic political control.