What are the Balkans?

What are the Balkans?

Author: BBC Radio 4 April 3, 2026 Duration: 41:34

June 28 1914 - a young Bosnian in Sarajevo fired the shot that triggered World War One. Why is this region so unstable? Misha Glenny returns to a region he's known for years


We often take the world map for granted, but the lines that define nations are far from permanent. In How to Invent a Country, award-winning journalist Misha Glenny, presented by BBC Radio 4, digs into the fascinating and often turbulent processes that bring a nation into being. This isn't just a dry history lesson; it's an exploration of the powerful forces-political ambition, cultural narratives, and sheer accident-that draw borders and forge identities. Each episode takes you to a different corner of the globe, unpacking the specific moments when a place transformed from an idea or a territory into a country recognized by the world. You'll hear about the contested lands, the foundational myths, and the real people whose lives were shaped by these creations. This podcast reveals how the countries we know today were invented, showing that their stories are alive, contested, and continually being rewritten. Tune in for a compelling journey that changes how you see every line on the map.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 64

How to Invent a Country
Podcast Episodes
The Invention of Britain #3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:38
Insecurity - from Dover to Dublin, presented by Misha Glenny and produced by Miles Warde
Italy - Garibaldi's Grand Scheme #2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:05
Are we Italian or not? With Leoluca Orlando, Lucy Riall, Tim Parks, Lucy Hughes-Hallett.
Le petit Napoleon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:09
The Invention of France #3