Municipalities on the Western Balkan have made significant progress in their strategic approach to local development after 2000. A number of municipalities have already developed and implemented strategic plans for local sustainable development. However, differences in capacities, management skills and motivation among local governments are easy to observe. The lack of substantial decentralization efforts, low internal capacity in municipalities, overlapping jurisdictions between central and local levels, a culture of non-participation and an unfavorable economic environment jeopardize the success of local development efforts. This paper analyzes local sustainable development planning processes and
practices in three Western Balkan countries (Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia - Herzegovina) by using the Drina River Basin as a case study.
KEYWORDS: • sustainable development • local community • Western Balkan • Serbia • Montenegro • Bosnia -Herzegovina
Author Biographies
Tenured professor
University of Nis, Faculty of Occupational Safety, Serbia
Assisstant Professor
FEPN - Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Belgrade, Serbia
