In view of its geographical location, and endeavour to enhance its internationalisation process, the University of Szeged established the Western Balkans Centre to invite universities (including professors and researchers) from six countries for starting and shaping the project (Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, and Serbia) to join the initiative and open a new space for research and study in the field of legal, economic and social sciences.

Even though the region is often perceived as a homogenous one, using the catch-all term of Western Balkans becomes increasingly challenging when discussing the obstacles for integration, the social impacts of very different identities, the results of political, legal, economic and social transition or the ways for further development and related trends and trajectories.

Founded in the framework of the Centre in 2024, the BLESS (Balkans Legal, Economic and Social Science) is a peer reviewed and open access e-Journal. Its objective is to become an important window and the recognised regional scientific review for the study of international relations, history, global and regional economic relations, legal issues and geopolitics so that it could be an academic “megaphone” for the researchers pursuing their works in the Western Balkans’ countries within or between the disciplines of legal, economic and social sciences.

BLESS promotes the development of scientific discourse across borders. We strongly support the publication of studies, exclusively in English, that are based on a holistic, complex approach and that are also of interest to an international readership with a regional focus.