The fact that from 2013 until 2015 almost 1,000 people from the Western Balkans left to fight in Syria and Iraq is a matter of ongoing concern. Even though the number of foreign fighters began to decrease as of 2015, it is estimated that more than 300 have returned to their home countries. The return of foreign fighters however represents only the tip of the iceberg: the problem becomes much more complex
when other individuals from the region who were not necessarily foreign fighters but subscribe to the ideology of Islamist extremism are factored into the equation. While the returned foreign fighters potentially represent an ongoing security threat, the major challenge derives from individuals and groups aiming at fragmenting society and especially radical Islamist preachers and practitioners. In particular, the traditional practice of Islam has been undermined in recent years by a new wave
of radical clerics who have sought to spread the doctrines of conservative Salaf iinspired Islam.

In order to counter the potential of violent extremism, a holistic approach is a sine qua non for a successful outcome in the long term. The notions of Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) or Preventing Violent Extremism (PVE) should be used in reference to the legal and policy framework of the countries in the Western Balkans. This should imply taking steps which will not only reflect a consultative process in terms of design and implementation but also emphasise the importance of fostering resilience. As the findings on fragility below will show, there is a wide spectrum of push and pull factors driving individuals into the arms of violent extremist groups. These include personal, societal, economic and religious factors: all equally important. The aim of this chapter is to analyse the key fragilities that are common to all Western Balkan countries, describe how serious they are and identify measures for addressing them.