Conflict by Another Name: Ecological Postponement as Institutional Strategy in the Western Balkans

This essay examines how young people in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia perceive institutional responses to environmental harm and engage with ecological issues online. Based on a survey, digital content analysis, interviews, and cross-method comparison, it identifies “ecological postponement” as a recurring governance strategy in which assessment, consultation, and planning replace meaningful remediation. Young people demonstrate strong ecological awareness and sustained digital engagement, but low institutional trust and limited political efficacy. The essay argues that eco-digital practices constitute democratic infrastructure, while existing participation mechanisms often absorb youth engagement without granting procedural influence or accountability.