Chapter 1 Security Culture as a Concept Synthesized From the Terms Culture and Security Svetlana Stanarević Today’s world is burdened by numerous contradictions, as inevitable con­sequences of complex changes in the second half of the twentieth century. Confronted with growing and evident problems that undermine and threat­en the values of individuals, social groups, society as a whole, or the inter­national community, the focus of attention for theorists and researchers in­creasingly involves culture and security as the main“actors” in all complex relationships among people, nations, or states. Events, challenges, and new developmental trends, such as democratic con­solidation in post-war Iraq, the conflicts in Gaza, or the war in Ukraine, have led to the necessity of innovative thinking regarding the relations between culture and security. Once considered a secondary factor, culture now occu­pies a central place in the development of international relations, as well as in national and international security. Its importance is not a new phenomenon, culture has always had a significant influence reflected across all spheres of society but in recent decades, its presence on the international stage has be­come even more evident through changes in the distribution of power, new sources of influence, and emerging forms of power. Specifically, the new modes of expressing power in international relations are no longer limited solely to technological advancements or the educational structure of populations but also include the attractiveness of cultural goods and resources, ideologies, ways of thinking and living in other words, the over­all civilizational pattern and its appeal. Conflicts such as the war in Ukraine, the struggles in Gaza, or complex challenges in Syria, along with the global fight against terrorism, have highlighted the importance of culture as both a tool and a determinant in shaping identity, legitimacy, and power on the inter­national stage. Through these events, it becomes clear how cultural exchange, ideologies, and civilizational differences influence the course of conflicts, as well as the possibilities for peaceful resolution and building stability. 20 NATIONAL SECURITY CULTURES- A VIEW FROM THE BALKANS