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GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW - No. 53 (2025)
Article Index
Zora Živanović, Bojan Vračarević
DOI: 10.35666/23038950.2026.53.09
UDC: 911.3:711.061(497.11)"1995-2022"
Abstract: Measuring Local Development in Serbia: Methodological Analysis and Lessons for Policy Design
This paper conceptualizes the measurement of local development as a key prerequisite for effective regional policy design and therefore provides a comprehensive comparative examination of the official methodologies used to assess the development level of local self-government units (LSGUs) in Serbia. It reviews legislative frameworks, strategic development documents, and statistical procedures, demonstrating how differences in indicator selection, weighting schemes, and classification thresholds shape both the diagnosis and interpretation of regional disparities. The analysis further traces temporal changes in LSGU development categories to evaluate whether territorial inequalities are diminishing, persisting, or intensifying. By integrating methodological critique with policy relevance, the paper offers evidence-based guidance for support decision-makers and public policy designers in seeking to formulate more targeted, effective, and context-sensitive measures aimed at achieving balanced regional development.
Keywords
regional development, Local Self-Government Units (LSGUs), regional disparities, policy implications, Serbia
GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW - SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL FOR GEOGRAPHY No 53, Year 2025. pg. 09-28
Alma Kadušić, Aida Avdić Marić, Haris Gekić, Boris Avdić
DOI: 10.35666/23038950.2026.53.29
UDC: 911.3:312]614.1(497.6)"2013-2023"
Abstract: Demographic Periphery of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Trends and Challenges in Low-Population Municipalities
The current administrative division of Bosnia and Herzegovina was primarily defined by the Dayton Peace Agreement in 1995 and has resulted in a unique political structure of the country. This political division shaped the settlement network, leading to ethnic segregation, territorial fragmentation, and the creation of low-population municipalities. These municipalities are mostly characterized by adverse demographic trends, including emigration, low fertility, and population ageing. This research therefore aims to analyze demographic trends in low-population municipalities of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the period 2013-2023. However, demographic analysis of low-population municipalities is challenging, since these municipalities represent demographic outliers which skew the analysis and potentially mask the actual demographic trends.
For this reason, data smoothing using Empirical Bayes Rates was applied in order to improve data reliability and identify municipalities that deviate significantly from national average demographic trends. The results of the study are relevant for future demographic research in Bosnia and Herzegovina and may also inform case studies and strategic demographic planning at both the national and regional levels.
Keywords
demographic trends, periphery, low-population municipalities, demographic outliers, Empirical Bayes rates, Bosnia and Herzegovina
GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW - SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL FOR GEOGRAPHY No 53, Year 2025. pg. 29-52
Miha Koderman
DOI: 10.35666/23038950.2026.53.53
UDC: 011/016COBISS[911.3:377](497.4)"19/20"
Abstract: Second Homes as an Interdisciplinary Research Topic: a COBISS System based Analysis of Diploma Theses in the Slovenian Tertiary Education
The article examines second homes as an interdisciplinary research topic by situating them within contemporary conceptualisations of second homes as enduring socio-spatial phenomena through a systematic analysis of the diploma theses in the Slovenian tertiary education. The study, based on a COBISS database, identified 64 students’ bachelor's and master's theses and doctoral dissertations that focus on the topic of second homes. Most of these theses could be classified into six disciplinary domains: architecture and landscape architecture (20), construction–energy technology–geodesy (13), geography (10), design and interior design (9), economy and tourism (5), and ethnology and cultural anthropology (3). The publication of the theses spans over more than four decades, demonstrating the long-term continuity and evolving thematic diversity of second-home research, while the research reveals that second homes represent one of the most enduring, diverse, and interdisciplinary topics. Geography has played a pioneering and sustaining role, providing conceptual and methodological foundations for understanding second homes as spatial processes linked to leisure mobility, landscape transformation, and tourism development, which have influenced research in other disciplines.
Keywords
second homes, diploma theses, tertiary education, COBISS system analysis, Slovenia
GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW - SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL FOR GEOGRAPHY No 53, Year 2025. pg. 53-86
Edin Hadžimustafić
DOI: 10.35666/23038950.2024.53.87
UDC: 911.3:904(497.6 TK)
Abstract: Analysis of physical dimensions of medieval Bosnia stećak tombstones in the Tuzla Canton
The subject of research in this paper is the quantitative, dimensional and spatial analysis of 934 medieval Bosnian stećak tombstones in the Tuzla Canton, northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tuzla Canton has 13 municipalities with an area of 2,649 km2. The aim of the paper is to analyze the dimensions of stećak according to their basic forms: slab, crate, crate with pedestal, gable, gable with pedestal and column. Measurements of length, width, and height were conducted in the field, and slab- and crate-shaped stećaks were specifically analyzed: slabs (n = 31) have an average length of 161 cm, width of 79 cm, and height of 21 cm, while crates (n = 184) average 174 cm in length, 79 cm in width, and 49 cm in height. For 454 tombstones the dimensions were not recorded due to subsidence, breakage, being built into the wall, or incomplete measurements; the remaining 129 tombstones were amorphous. All collected data were entered into a relational digital database, enabling statistical analysis (mean, median, mode, standard deviation, quartiles) and GIS-based geovisualization of necropolises. The results were classified by municipalities or cities, settlements, and necropolises, revealing both the morphological variation and spatial distribution of stećaks within the canton. This unorthodox methodological approach contributes to a more detailed understanding of stećak morphology and supports future research in Bosnian medieval funerary practices.
Keywords
Bosnian medieval stećak tombstones physical dimensions, stećak shapes, field research, descriptive statistical analysis, Tuzla Canton, Geographic Information Systems
GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW - SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL FOR GEOGRAPHY No 53, Year 2025. pg. 87-114
Boštjan Rogelj
DOI: 10.35666/23038950.2026.53.115
UDC: 911.3:32(497.1:479.4)"1980-2026"
Abstract: The discursive making of a neighbor: shifting geopolitical representations of the Former Yugoslavia in Slovenia
This article examines the evolution of Slovenia’s geopolitical imagination regarding the post-Yugoslav space from the 1980s to the present through the lens of critical geopolitics. It traces how dominant Slovenian geopolitical representations of this area have evolved over time and argues that these shifts were primarily shaped by transformation in Slovenian political and economic goals. The article examines which geopolitical representations prevailed in different periods, how they were constructed, and why they underwent transformation. The analysis identifies four historical-geopolitical phases: the late socialist period, characterized by discursive differentiation from other Yugoslav republics; the post-independence period, during which the former Yugoslavia was largely tabooed as part of Slovenia’s European identity construction; the post-EU-accession phase, marked by a patronizing rediscovery of the Western Balkans; and a more recent phase in which narratives of Slovenian discursively articulated superiority have been increasingly challenged, giving rise to a more complex and interdependent geopolitical imagination.
Keywords
critical geopolitics, geopolitical imagination, Slovenia, former Yugoslavia, Western Balkans
GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW - SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL FOR GEOGRAPHY No 53, Year 2025. pg. 115-134
Samir Đug, Senad Šljuka, Aldijana Mušović, Adi Vesnić, Mahir Gajević
DOI: 10.35666/23038950.2026.53.135
UDC: 911.2[551.49:574.9](497.6)
Abstract: Hydrographic and anthropogenic factors influencing the distribution of Sander lucioperca (Linnaeus, 1758) in Bosnia and Herzegovina
The distribution of pikeperch, Sander lucioperca (Linnaeus, 1758), in Bosnia and Herzegovina reflects the combined influence of hydrographic structures and anthropogenic activities. While naturally present in the Sava River and its tributaries within the Black Sea basin, the species has expanded into the Adriatic basin since the late 20th century, primarily due to human-mediated introductions and hydrotechnical interventions. This expansion has enabled pikeperch to colonize new ecological niches, particularly within hydroaccumulations and karstic lakes, where it has successfully established viable populations. The study analyzes the ecological consequences of this distribution, highlighting the negative impacts on native and endemic ichthyofauna of the Adriatic basin, including Salmo marmoratus, Salmo obtusirostris, and other salmonids and cyprinids. Hydrographic connectivity, facilitated by dam construction and water regulation, has played a crucial role in enabling the spread of pikeperch beyond its natural range. Anthropogenic factors, such as stocking and recreational fishing practices, further accelerated its expansion, which often occurs at the expense of genetic diversity and ecosystem stability. The findings highlight the importance of integrating hydrographic characteristics and anthropogenic pressures into freshwater ecosystem management. Pikeperch in Bosnia and Herzegovina serves as a bioindicator of ecological change, demonstrating how human interventions can reshape species distributions and threaten endemic biodiversity. Effective conservation strategies must, therefore, combine hydrological planning, genetic monitoring, and strict regulation of introductions to mitigate further ecological risks.
Keywords
Sander lucioperca, hydrography, distribution, invasive species, Bosnia and Herzegovina
GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW - SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL FOR GEOGRAPHY No 53, Year 2025. pg. 135-145
Kristina Košić, Nemanja Tomić, Vuk Garača, Aleksandra Dragin
DOI: 10.35666/23038950.2026.53.147
UDC: 911.3[338.48-6:615.8](497.113)"18/19"
Abstract: Competitiveness of spa tourism destinations- case study of Vojvodina (Serbia)
Spa tourism represents an important segment of Serbia's tourist offer, both due to the abundance and quality of thermal mineral springs and the expertise of medical staff. Spas have continuously adapted to the needs of tourists, so over time their primary therapeutic function has been complemented by recreational and wellness offerings. The aim of this paper is to assess the competitiveness of Vojvodina is as a spa tourism destination and to evaluate the current state of all factors affecting the competitiveness of spas in the Vojvodina Province (Northern Serbia). The Spa Assessment Model (SAM) was used to evaluate both the current use and the tourism potential of spas, as well as for assessing spas from the perspective of spa visitors. Both tourism experts and tourists –including medical tourists and recreation-motivated spa tourists – were involved in the evaluation. The results indicate that stakeholders consider Vojvodina not currently competitive as a spa tourism destination, although some advantages were identified, which could be leveraged to improve the region’s position in the spa tourism market. The findings also highlight the main differences between the two market segments and reveal their preferences, enabling spa management to tailor spa product more effectively to each market segment.
Keywords
competitiveness, spa tourism, Spa Assessment Model (SAM), Vojvodina, Serbia
GEOGRAPHICAL REVIEW - SCIENTIFIC JOURNAL FOR GEOGRAPHY No 53, Year 2025. pg. 147-156