Small-state strategic resilience in NATO’s southeastern flank: A conceptual and comparative analysis of Albania and Kosovo

Dimensions	Description	Measuring indicators	Albania	Kosova
Governance and institutional resilience	The functioning of the state and coordination in crisis	Institutional stability, coordinating capacity, public trust	Institutional reform; adaptive response after 2022	Social resilience; institutional challenge
Digital and cyber resilience	Protection of critical infrastructure, recovery	CSIRT capacity, redundancy, counter-disinformation	High exposure, deep reforms	Exposure to disinformation; limited infrastructure
Geopolitical and infrastructural positioning	Strategic value and mobility corridors	Door, airbase, military road	Key points in the Adriatic	Land Centre for Regional Roads and KFOR
Regional stabilisation functions	Reducing the risk of spillover and crises	Coordination with NATO/ KFOR; predictable behaviour	Pro-NATO stabilising factor	Hottest peak; critical regional stability

[i] Source: Authors’ table based on theory and results of their analysis.

[ii] SSSRF, Small-State Strategic Resilience Framework.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jms-2026-0001 | Journal eISSN: 1799-3350 | Journal ISSN: 2242-3524

Language: English

Submitted on: Dec 9, 2025

Accepted on: Aug 19, 2026

Published on: Oct 27, 2026

Published by: National Defense University

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

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© 2026 Hajdi Xhixha, Kristaq Xharo, published by National Defense University
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