From the Editor

In more than one way, this issue of REGION stems from the Regional Research Promotion Programme for the Western Balkans (2008–16), supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by the University of Fribourg. The program aimed at improving the quality of research in the social sciences in the region, promoting international cooperation, and supporting the careers of junior researchers.

Most of the authors in this issue have participated in the program, and informality in its various aspects has been one of the main thematic fields developed during its lifetime. I am grateful to my colleagues from the RRPP Steering Board for their help in the inception and planning of this issue: to Nicolas Hayoz and Vedran Džihić for their collaboration in fleshing out the topic, and to Claire Gordon, Jasmina Opardija, and Magdalena Solska for their encouragement and assistance with finding the authors. Special thanks to Eric Gordy, University College, London, for kindly agreeing to write the introduction.