Thus blares one of the leading Croatian newspapers today. The geography of the country has shifted now that Croats have decided to join the European Union (“The Referendum,” January 15, 2012). According to the newspaper, Croatia is no longer in the Balkans, but in Europe. By the same token, other countries from the region will eventually go through the same geographic shift. When, say, Bosnia or Serbia join the Union, they will forever leave the Balkans just like Croatia has done before them. In short, the Balkans is a political notion rather than a geographic one. Geography is not destiny, that is. Or so the Croats hope. Unfortunately, the fanfare suggests precisely the opposite.