Bridging Defense Studies and Disaster Risk Reduction: Comparative Perspectives from the Former Yugoslavia

Authors

  • Vanja Rokvić Department of Strategic and Defense Studies, Faculty of Security Studies, University of Belgrade, Serbia
  • Ivan Dimitrijević Department of Strategic and Defense Studies, Faculty of Security Studies, University of Belgrade, Serbia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18485/ijdrm.2025.7.2.5

Keywords:

defence studies, disaster risk reduction, emergencies, armed forces, education

Abstract

In contemporary crises that threaten lives, infrastructure, and the functioning of states, armed forces have become central actors in disaster response. As their roles expand beyond traditional defense, the question arises: how prepared are they—educationally—for these responsibilities? Higher education plays a crucial role in disaster risk reduction (DRR) by developing knowledge, institutional capacity, and trained professionals. In particular, defense studies programs are essential for embedding DRR as a strategic competency. This paper examines the integration of DRR into defense education across the successor states of the former Yugoslavia. Drawing on the shared legacy of Total People’s Defense education in Yugoslavia, the research uses qualitative curriculum analysis to compare institutional frameworks and course content across selected universities and military academies. The analysis covered seven higher education institutions across five countries, providing comparative insight into how DRR principles are embedded in defense education. The findings suggest that credible defense education depends on the integration of DRR principles, positioning disaster preparedness and resilience as core competencies for defense graduates. The paper argues that aligning defense education with DRR is essential for building national resilience, enhancing civil–military cooperation, and preparing future professionals for complex 21st-century security environments.

References

1. Al Jazeera. (2016, 7. August). Macedonia Flash Flooding Kills Over 20. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2016/8/7/macedonia-flash-flooding-kills-over-20

2. Anderson, E.W. (1994). Disaster Management and the Military. GeoJournal, 34 (2), 201–205.

3. Ayan, M. A., Tasdemir, B. D., Yalcin, R. C., Fayganoglu, P., & Yilmaz, B. (2025). Mapping the Evolution of Defense Studies (1975–2024): A Bibliometric Analysis of Global Research Trends. Defense & Strategy/Obrana a strategie, 25(1).

4. BBC News na srpskom. (2023, July 26). Severna Makedonija, Balkan i zemljotres: Kako se Skoplje uzdiglo iz ruševina i pomirilo svet pre 60 godina. 021.rs. https://www.021.rs/story/BBC/347906/Severna-Makedonija-Balkan-i-zemljotres-Kako-se-Skoplje-uzdiglo-iz-rusevina-i-pomirilo-svet-pre-60-godina.html

5. Binagwaho, A. et al. (2022). Knowledge-Driven Actions: Transforming Higher Education for Global Sustainability: Independent Expert Group on the Universities and the 2030 Agenda. UNESCO Publishing.

6. Blagojević, S., Starčević, S., & Zogović, M. (2019). Nauke odbrane ili vojne nauke – pola veka bez odgovora. Vojno delo, 71(7), 178-188. https://doi.org/10.5937/vojdelo1907178b

7. Bueno, A. (2018). De los Estudios Estratégicos. Conceptualización y evolución de un campo de estudio. Revista de Estudios en Seguridad Internacional, 4(1), 237–256. https://doi.org/10.18847/1.7.14

8. Bueno, A. (2019). La evolución de los estudios estratégicos en la comunidad académica española: análisis de su agenda de investigación (1978–2018). Revista Española de Ciencia Política, 51, 177–203. https://doi.org/10.21308/recp.50.07

9. Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters. (2025). 2024 Disasters in Numbers: A Hot and Stormy Year (2024 EM DAT report). CRED.

10. Cho, R. (2023, October 11). Why Climate Change Is a National Security Risk. Columbia Climate School. State of the Planete. https://news.climate.columbia.edu/2023/10/11/why-climate-change-is-a-national-security-risk/#:~:text=The%20U,affect%20American%20national%20security%20interests

11. Cvetković, V. (2024). In-depth analysis of disaster (risk) management system in Serbia: A critical examination of systemic strengths and weaknesses. Preprint, MDPI.

12. DCAF. (2020). Disaster Risk Reduction, Preparedness and Relief & the Security Sector ISSAT Advisory Note. Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance.

13. Dimitrijević, I. (2014). Osnivanje i razvoj Fakulteta bezbednosti sa osvrtom na društvene promene i reformu visokog obrazovanja u Republici Srbiji. Godišnjak Fakulteta bezbednosti, 229–243.

14. Domingo Dela Cruz, R., & Ormilla, R. C. G. (2022). Disaster Risk Reduction Management Implementation in the Public Elementary Schools of the Department of Education, Philippines. International Journal of Disaster Risk Management, 4(2), 1–15.

15. Đokić, K. (2020, 5. maj). The Armed Forces against COVID 19 in the Western Balkans: One Invisible Enemy and a Few Visible Flaws. European Western Balkans. https://europeanwesternbalkans.com/2020/05/05/the-armed-forces-against-covid-19-in-the-western-balkans-one-invisible-enemy-and-a-few-visible-flaws/

16. European External Action Service. (2022, March 31). The EU’s Climate Change and Defense Roadmap. EEAS. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/eu-climate-change-and-defense-roadmap_en

17. Fakultet bezbednosti. (n.d.). Studije nauka bezbednosti – program. Fakultet bezbednosti.

18. Fakultet političkih nauka Univezitet u Sarajevu. (n.d.). Odsjek sigurnosne i mirovne studije. https://fpn.unsa.ba/b/npp-ba/odsjek-za-sims-nastavni-planovi-i-programi-syllabusi/

19. Fakulteta za družbene vede, Univerza v Ljubljani. (n.d.a). Obramboslovje – 1. stopnja (dodiplomski študij). Univerza v Ljubljani, FDV. https://www.fdv.uni-lj.si/studij/studij-na-fdv/dodiplomski-studij-1-stopnje/studijski-programi/obramboslovje-1-stopnja-novo

20. Fakulteta za družbene vede, Univerza v Ljubljani. (n.d.b). Opis predmetov za program Obramboslovje in varnostne študije (magistrski študij 2. stopnje). Univerza v Ljubljani, FDV. https://www.fdv.uni-lj.si/docs/default-source/magistrski-studij-2-stopnje/predmeti/obr---0pis-predmetov.pdf

21. Fakulteta za družbene vede, Univerza v Ljubljani. (n.d.c). Defense Studies (doctoral programme, 3rd cycle). Univerza v Ljubljani, FDV. https://www.fdv.uni-lj.si/en/study/study-at-the-FDV/doctoral-programmes/study-programmes/defense-studies-3rd-cycle

22. Ferris, E. (2012). Future Directions in Civil‑Military Responses to Natural Disasters. Brookings Institution. https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/05-civ-mil-disasters-ferris.pdf

23. Galbreath, D. J., & Deni, J. R. (2018). Introduction. In: D. J. Galbreath & J. R. Deni (Eds.), Routledge handbook of defense studies. London, New York: Routledge. p. 1.

24. Gromek, P. (2023). Armed Forces and Disaster Risk Reduction: A Theoretical Approach. Athenaeum Polskie Studia Politologiczne, 79(1), 47-69.

25. Holloway, A. (2015). Strategic Mobilisation of Higher Education Institutions in Disaster Risk Reduction Capacity Building: Experience of Periperi U. Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction, 49-72.

26. Hollstein, B. (2011). Qualitative approaches. The SAGE handbook of social network analysis, 1(01), 404-416.

http://fzf.ukim.edu.mk/%d1%81%d1%82%d1%83%d0%b4%d0%b8%d1%81%d0%ba%d0%b0-%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%be%d0%b3%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%bc%d0%b0-%d0%bf%d0%be-%d0%be%d0%b4%d0%b1%d1%80%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%b0-2023-%d0%bf%d1%80%d0%b2-%d1%86%d0%b8%d0%ba/

https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/619041493881365476/pdf/114757-WP-PUBLIC-drp-slovenia.pdf

https://doi.org/10.18485/ijdrm.2022.4.2.1

https://emergency.unhcr.org/coordination-and-communication/working-others/use-military-and-civil-defence-assets-mcda

https://fb.bg.ac.rs/studije/oas/osnovne-akademske-studije/

https://files.emdat.be/reports/2024_EMDAT_report.pdf

https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1030&context=geog_masterpapers

https://unsdg.un.org/sites/default/files/2020-08/Integrating-DRR-CCA-in-CFs-web.pdf#:~:text=Progress%20towards%20sustainable%20development%20and%20peaceful%20societies,that%20hold%20societies%20together%20and%20drive%20development.

27. Ivanov, A., & Cvetković, V. (2014). The Role of Education in Natural Disaster Risk Reduction. Horizons Series A, 16.

28. Jelušić, Lj. (2025). „Slovenia“. In: Heinecken, L., & Leuprecht, C. (eds). Military Operations in Response to Domestic Emergencies and Global Pandemics: Implications for Civil-Military Relations. Springer. pp. 283-297.

29. Kešetović, Ž., Dimitrijević, I., & Stekić, N. (2018). Security Studies in Serbian Higher Education. Security & Future, 1/2018, 11-17.

30. King’s College London (KCL) (n.d.). Defence Studies Research. https://www.kcl.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/areas/defence-studies-research-mphil-phd

31. Krause, K., & Williams, M. C. (1996). Broadening the Agenda of Security Studies: Politics and Methods. Mershon international studies review, 40 (Supplement_2), 229-254.

32. Kumar, G., & Dimri, B. R. (2018). Armed Forces and Disaster Management in India. Economic Affairs, 63(3), 753-760.

33. Lemus, VMG. (2019). Campaign of Sustainable and Resilient Universities for the Incorporation of Reduction Risk of Disasters on Superior Education on America and the Caribbean. UNDRR. https://www.preventionweb.net/files/66110_f310garciacampaignofsustainableandr.pdf?startDownload=true

34. Magheru, M. (2022, February). Responses to Disasters and Crises through Subnational Social Protection Systems: Case Study – Montenegro. UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office. https://www.unicef.org/eca/media/27656/file/Montenegro:%20Responses%20to%20disasters%20and%20crises%20through%20subnational%20social%20protection%20systems.pdf

35. Mendoza, K. J. A. (2025). Disaster Risk Reduction and Management among Local Universities and Colleges in Central Luzon, Philippines. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 9(4), 2223-2241.

36. Miletić, M., & Pejić, I. (2018, August 17). Zanemarivani sustavi obrane od prirodnih katastrofa. Bilten. https://www.bilten.org/?p=24549

37. Milevski, L. (2016). The Evolution of Modern Grand Strategic Thought. Oxford University Press.

38. NATO. (2021a, Jun 14). NATO Climate Change and Security Action Plan. NATO. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/official_texts_185174.htm

39. NATO. (2021b). NATO EADRCC Exercise North Macedonia 2021. NATO. https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/photos_186825.htm

40. Nicolas, E. Jr. (2023). The Role of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) in Disaster Response and Adaptation Strategies to Climatic Disasters in Manila. Geography Master Research Papers. Portland State University.

41. Rajčetić, S. (2025, 15. april). Zemljotres u Crnoj Gori 1979: razaranja, žrtve i heroji najveće prirodne katastrofe u istoriji SFRJ. Blic. https://www.blic.rs/slobodno-vreme/zemljotres-u-crnoj-gori-1979-razaranja-zrtve-i-heroji-najvece-prirodne-katastrofe-u/b55spcx

42. Rokvić, V. (2017). Sistemi odbrane. Univerzitet u Beogradu, Fakultet bezbednosti.

43. Rokvić, V., & Dimitrijević, I. (2023). An Old Enemy in a New Guise: The Armed Forces and Infectious Diseases. Kultura Polisa, 20(2), 155-174.

44. Rokvić, V., & Stanojević, P. (2024). Disaster Risk Reduction Education through Digital Technologies in the Context of Education for Sustainable Development: A Curricula Analysis of Security and Defense Studies in Serbia. Sustainability, 16(22), 9777. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229777

45. RTCG – Radio Televizija Crne Gore. (2019, December 26). Kadeti položili zakletvu. RTCG. https://www.rtcg.me/vijesti/drustvo/263684/kadeti-polozili-zakletvu.html

46. Sakurai, A., & Sato, T. (2016). Promoting Education for Disaster Resilience and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Journal of Disaster Research, 11(3), 402-412. https://doi.org/10.20965/jdr.2016.p0402

47. Shaw, R. (2011). Higer Educations in Sustainable Development. AUDEM.

48. Shaw, R., & Oikawa, Y. (Eds.). (2014). Education for Sustainable Development and Disaster Risk Reduction. Springer Japan.

49. Slovenska vojska. (2023, 4. avgust). Slovenska vojska pomaga pri odpravi posledic ujme na območju celotne Slovenije. Slovenska vojska. https://www.slovenskavojska.si/medijsko-sredisce/novica/slovenska-vojska-pomaga-pri-odpravi-posledic-ujme-na-obmocju-celotne-slovenije

50. SodaLIVE.ba. (2017, 7. septembar). Pripadnici OS BiH trenirali za reagovanje u slučaju poplava. SodaLIVE.ba. https://sodalive.ba/aktuelnosti/lukavac-grad/pripadnici-os-bih-trenirali-za-reagovanje-u-slucaju-poplava/

51. Sveučilište odbrane i sigurnosti „Dr Franjo Tuđman“. (n.d.). Vojno inženjerstvo. https://www.sois-ft.hr/studij/vojno_inzenjerstvo

52. Sveučilište u Zagrebu(2025). Sveučilište obrane i sigurnosti "Dr. Franjo Tuđman" nositelj studijskih programa za potrebe Oružanih snaga RH. Vojni studijski programi. https://vojni.unizg.hr/?@=223u2#news_76158

53. Swedish Defence University (SDU) (n.d.). Programmes and Courses. https://www.fhs.se/en/swedish-defence-university/education/programmes-and-courses.html

54. Traversac, A. S. (2020). Defense Studies and Public Law: Emergence, Affirmation and Methodology of a Research Field. In Research Methods in Defense Studies. Routledge. pp. 31-46.

55. UNDP Bosna i Hercegovina. (2024, 27. novembar). Uloga univerziteta i akademske zajednice u upravljanju rizicima od katastrofa. UNDP. https://www.undp.org/bs/bosnia-herzegovina/stories/uloga-univerziteta-i-akademske-zajednice-u-upravljanju-rizicima-od-katastrofa

56. UNDRR. (2020). Integrating Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation in the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. UNDRR.

57. UNDRR. (2025). Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction 2025 (GAR2025): Valuing Resilience. UNDRR. https://www.undrr.org/gar/gar2025

58. UNHCR. (2024). The Use of Military and Civil Defence Assets (MCDA). Emergency Book. UNHCR.

59. United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction. (2007). Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015: Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters. United Nations.

60. United Nations. (2015). Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030. UNDRR. https://www.undrr.org/media/16176/download?startDownload=20250805

61. United Nations. (2019, January 25). Climate Change Recognized as ‘Threat Multiplier’, UN Security Council Debates its Impact on Peace. UN News. https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/01/1031322?_gl=1*dawh67*_ga*MTM0NjIzNDA3LjE3NDY0MzIyNjM.*_ga_TK9BQL5X7Z*czE3NTU5Mzk1MTQkbzQkZzEkdDE3NTU5Mzk1OTckajYwJGwwJGgw

62. United Nations. (n.d.). Five Ways the Climate Crisis Impacts Human Security. United Nations. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/human-security

63. University „Goce Delčev“ Štip, Military Academy „General Mihailo Apostolski“ – Skopje. (2017). Akreditacija SP Prv [ciklus]: Krizi zaštita i spasuvanje. https://ma.edu.mk/wp-content/uploads/10Аkreditacija-SP-Prv-ciklus-Krizi-zastita-i-spasuvanje.pdf

64. University of Calgary (UoC) (n.d.). Center for Military, Security and Strategic Studies – Programs. https://arts.ucalgary.ca/centre-military-security-strategic-studies/future-students/graduate-programs

65. University of Ottawa (UoO) (n.d.). Master of Arts in Security and Defence Studies. https://catalogue.uottawa.ca/en/graduate/master-arts-security-defence-studies/

66. Univerzitet „Sv. Kiril i Metodij“ u Skoplju, Filozofski fakultet. (n.d.). Студиска програма по Одбрана (2023) – прв циклус на студии.

67. Univerzitet odbrane Vojna akademija (2020). Studijski program: Upravljanje rizicima u slučaju prirodnih katastrofa. https://www.va.mod.gov.rs/lat/1063/studijski-program-upravljanje-rizicima-u-slucaju-prirodnih-katastrofa-1063

68. Vij, S., Russell, C., Clark, J., Parajuli, B. P., Shakya, P., & Dewulf, A. (2020). Evolving Disaster Governance Paradigms in Nepal. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 50, 101911.

69. Vlada Crne Gore. (2010, 8. decembar). Nastavljene aktivnosti Vojske Crne Gore na saniranju posljedica poplava. Vlada Crne Gore. https://www.gov.me/clanak/101698--nastavljene-aktivnosti-vojske-crne-gore-na-saniranju-posljedica-poplava

70. Vlada Republike Hrvatske. (2016, 16. veljače). Vojne snage RH u potpori zajednici. Vlada Republike Hrvatske. https://vlada.gov.hr/vojne-snage-rh-u-potpori-zajednici/15257

71. Vogler, A. (2023). Barking Up the Tree? How National Security Strategies Frame Climate and Other Environmental Change as Security Issues. Political Geography, 105, 102893.

72. Wall, E., Chu, E., & Dimitrijević, I. (2008, August). The civil protection system in Serbia. Jefferson Institute. https://www.files.ethz.ch/isn/93834/Civil%20Protection%20in%20Serbia.pdf

73. World Bank Group. (2015). Slovenia: Disaster Risk Profile. World Bank, Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). World Bank.

74. World Bank Group. (2021a). Climate Risk Country Profile: Bosnia and Herzegovina. World Bank. https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/2021-07/15914-WB_Bosnia%20Country%20Profile-WEB%20%281%29.pdf

75. World Bank Group. (2021b). Climate Risk Country Profile: Croatia. World Bank. https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/sites/default/files/2021-06/15847-WB_Croatia%20Country%20Profile-WEB_0.pdf

76. World Bank Group. (2024a, November). Country Climate and Development Report: Western Balkans. 6. Serbia Country Compendium. Executive Summary. World Bank. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099112224141022447/pdf/P179205112226c0ad1a2e71248429b93b22.pdf

77. World Bank Group. (2024b, October). Country Climate and Development Report: Western Balkans. 6. North Macedonia Country Compendium. Executive Summary. World Bank. https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099092624072036221/pdf/P17920510eb24a0561a98b1a8b00a307db2.pdf

Downloads

Published

2025-12-24

How to Cite

Rokvić, V., & Dimitrijević, I. (2025). Bridging Defense Studies and Disaster Risk Reduction: Comparative Perspectives from the Former Yugoslavia. International Journal of Disaster Risk Management, 7(2), 65–86. https://doi.org/10.18485/ijdrm.2025.7.2.5

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 2 (2025): International Journal of Disaster Risk Management

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Vanja Rokvić, Ivan Dimitrijević

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

This journal operates under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, reproduction, adaptation, and transformation in any medium, provided the original author and source are properly credited.

Authors retain the copyright of their articles.

The International Journal of Disaster Risk Management (IJDRM) encourages and permits authors to:

  • Post pre-print (submitted version), post-print (accepted version), and publisher’s version/PDF of their articles on personal websites, institutional repositories, disciplinary repositories, and academic networks such as ResearchGate, Academia.edu, or departmental websites,

  • Do so at any time, including before or after publication,

  • Provided that appropriate credit is given to the original publication in this journal, including:

    • Full bibliographic details

    • A clear mention of the journal name

    • A direct link to the article’s DOI (as an HTML link)

No prior permission is required from the publisher or editors for such actions, as long as the terms of the CC BY 4.0 license are followed.

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.