Proceedings of the 2nd International Scientific Conference “Contemporary Security Challenges and Threats”, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 7–8 March 2022.

“Contemporary Security Challenges and Threats” is the title of the second international scientific conference organized by the Faculty of Security Sciences of the University of Banja Luka. When we examine the topics addressed by the conference participants, we see that they cover a wide range, from the migrant crisis and ecological culture, characteristics of the victimological behavior of young people during the COVID-19 pandemic, to the role of forensics in criminal investigations. Topics such as the organization and functioning of the police in a modern environment, as well as security in emergency situations, were also addressed.

The time we live in has brought new security challenges and threats, but has also retained older ones. Therefore, it was interesting to listen to the participants of this conference, and I believe it will be equally instructive to read their papers.

One of the features of the second conference of the Faculty of Security Sciences is that participants from three countries came to Banja Luka – Serbia, the Russian Federation, and North Macedonia – giving the event an international character. The organizer rightly opted for three working languages: Serbian, Russian, and English.

In the proceedings presented to readers, 28 authors in 16 papers presented their research and perspectives on security challenges and threats, which are abundant in today’s world. Moreover, the boundaries of the security horizon are constantly shifting. There is hardly any sphere of social activity in which security is not present as a component. Above all, it should be noted what Saša Mijalković and Marija Popović Mančevski emphasized in the introductory paper: more than ever, contemporary security challenges and threats are characterized by suddenness and dynamic complexity – they are difficult to predict, and even more difficult to respond to in a timely, adequate, and comprehensive manner.

Despite the variety of topics and presenters, the organizer opted for a plenary session, probably to indicate that despite their diversity, today’s security challenges and threats are interconnected, and that these threads should be followed in order to understand the whole. The conference was held as part of the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Faculty of Security Sciences, which gave the event a ceremonial character. It is expected that future conferences will continue to accompany the anniversary celebrations of the Faculty of Security Sciences, which has quickly achieved recognition in the region and built significant international connections with related institutions.