Liridona Veliu Ashiku is a faculty member at the Department of Political Science, Loyola University Chicago (LUC), and a researcher in Politics and International Relations, holding a PhD from Dublin City University. She is renowned for her specialization in 'balkanization', democratic transitions in post-socialist societies, and socio-spatial segregation. Veliu Ashiku is multilingual, and fluent in Albanian, Macedonian, Serbian, and English. Her professional journey includes significant roles such as a Researcher at the Kroc Institute, University of Notre Dame, and the Institute for Racial Justice at LUC. A key highlight of her career is her 2018 publication, "#Balkanization: A Critical Study of Otherness through Twitter". Veliu Ashiku's contributions to the academic world are not limited to research; she is also a recognized educator, imparting her knowledge and expertise through teaching. Based in Chicago, Illinois, she continues to drive impactful research and educational endeavors.

Introduction

Chapter 1 Studying the (Western) Balkans: Theory and Method of Discourse Analysis

Chapter 2 'Balkanization': Genealogy of the Discourse

Chapter 3 (Socialist Yugoslav Republic of) Macedonia: Oasis of Peace or Apple of Discord

Chapter 4 (Socialist Yugoslav Republic of) Serbia: Once Upon a Time There Was One Country

Chapter 5 Serbia Anew is Born: The Exodus of Montenegro and Kosovo

Chapter 6 FYRO/(North) Macedonia: The Sun too is a Star

Conclusions