💡 Tips: EU-Western Balkans relations Research Papers - Academia.edu

Albania and Europe in a Political Regard is a multidisciplinary work which aims to develop different points of view in the field of social sciences. In this sense, it is not by chance that the chapters cover a variety of different... more

In the post-Cold War era, with democratic peace theory on the rise, efforts to promote democracy around the world have flourished. Western and Western democratic values-oriented states in particular have acted on the belief that democracy... more

In the post-Cold War era, with democratic peace theory on the rise, efforts to promote democracy around the world have flourished. Western and Western democratic values-oriented states in particular have acted on the belief that democracy promotion would contribute to world peace. Yet this process is not as utopian as described; it is also highly contingent, with no single prescription for success nor common idea of what the end result should look like. This study elaborates the problematic aspects of democracy promotion by examining the case of US and EU democracy promotion in the Western Balkans. The problems uncovered in this analysis fall into three categories: 1) those stemming from the very nature of democracy promotion as an exercise, 2) those specific to the promoters of democracy and 3) those relating to the particular characteristics or circumstances of the target state or region. Based on the analysis, this study concludes that such problems will continue to arise so long as the promoters of democracy continue to approach the process monolithically, without sensitivity to, and synchronization with, the cultural and political realities on the ground in target states.
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Soğuk Savaş sonrası dönemde, demokratik barış teorisinin yükselişe geçişiyle birlikte tüm dünyada demokrasiyi teşvik çabaları hız kazanmıştır. Demokrasinin dünya barışına katkıda bulunacağı dü-şüncesiyle hareket eden Batılı ve Batılı demokratik değerleri benimsemiş devletlerin bu tasavvurları, ütopyacı olmamakla beraber kalıcı barış için ne tek bir reçete ne de sonuçlara dair ortak bir fikir birliği mevcuttur. Bu çalışmada, demokrasiyi teşvik siyasetinin sorunlu yönleri, Avrupa Birliği ve Amerika Birleşik Devletleri'nin Batı Balkanlardaki demokrasiyi teşvik siyasetinin karşılaştırmalı analizi üze-rinden ortaya konulmaya çalışılmıştır. Makalede demokrasiyi teşvik siyasetinin sorunlu yönleri; de-mokrasiyi teşvik uygulamasının doğası kaynaklı, demokrasiyi teşvik süreçlerini yürüten dış aktörlere özgün, ve demokrasinin teşvikinin hedef ülke ve bölgelerin nitelikleri veya koşulları kaynaklı olmak üzere üç kategoride değerlendirilmiştir.. Çalışmada, demokrasiyi teşvik eden dış aktörlerin, monolitik bakış açılarını devam ettirdikleri, sahadaki hassasiyetlere dikkat etmeksizin hareket ettikleri, demokra-siyi teşvik çabalarını senkronize etmedikleri ve sahadaki kültürel ve siyasi gerçekleri göz ardı ettikleri sürece problemlerin devam edeceği sonucuna varılmıştır.

Background paper presented at a workshop in Budva, January 25, 2002, organized by the European Center for Minority Issues. The paper attempts to identify the principal groups which would be most affected by the possible severance of the... more

Toby Vogel and Kurt Bassuener observe and explain that as the long-awaited Sofia EU-western Balkan summit is about to open, the EU's policies have never been more disconnected from the ground reality in the Western Balkans.

Nach Jahren der Stagnation sind die Westbalkanländer wieder auf der EU-Beitrittsagenda. Mitte Mai 2018 findet der Balkangipfel der bulgarischen EU-Ratspräsidentschaft in Sofia statt. Diese und ähnliche Entwicklungen passieren bislang ohne... more

Кроме продвижения вперед текущего процесса ассоциации с Европейским Союзом, Киеву и западным друзьям необходимо активно изучать и использовать международные программы партнерства Юго-Восточной Европы и другие аналогичные инструменты для... more

The theme of this seminar paper is to contribute to understanding the role of the EU and the NATO alliance during the war in the former Yugoslavia. We will try to identify the reasons for the "fiasco" of the EU in resolving the crisis in... more

The countries of Southeast Europe—including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, and Serbia—are at risk. Following the bloody ethnic wars of the 1990s, these countries are experiencing what seems to be a period of peace and economic... more

The countries of Southeast Europe—including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, and Serbia—are at risk. Following the bloody ethnic wars of the 1990s, these countries are experiencing what seems to be a period of peace and economic development. Yet, in reality, the seeming stability of the past two decades is built on a foundation of nationalism, corruption, ethnic tensions, and government stagnation that threatens to erode if left unattended—with dangerous consequences for the region and the world. Active U.S. leadership has been absent in the region for more than a decade. During that time, the potential for Islamic extremism to take root, the actions of foreign powers including Russia, and—until borders were closed—a stream of refugees fleeing violence and economic deprivation have all increased pressure on a region with little political leadership at home and little attention from abroad.

The current solution—using EU accession as a catalyst for internal reforms in these countries—is a risky proposition. The timeline is too long and uncertain, the EU itself is under pressure, and when accession is achieved, as in Croatia, the reforms don’t always stick. Between rising nationalism, a meddling Russia, and the threat of Islamic extremism, the region poses a real security threat to Europe and the world if it cannot overcome political differences, work towards creating a stable economy, improve bilateral regional relations, and ensure stability and security that will ultimately benefit all countries in the region.

Bright spots exist. Growing the private sector, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has the potential to provide an alternative future for the English-speaking, technologically savvy youth who can fuel it. Shifting power away from government could help create a more diversified society, unlocking opportunities outside the official bureaucracy to combat unemployment, disaffection, and the lure of extremism. Ultimately, efforts that bring all actors together to work toward a positive future based on development and coexistence will create a more stable region.

This report examines the current forces shaping Southeast Europe and identifies major challenges and opportunities, drawn from extensive interviews over the course of eighteen months with leaders in and experts on the region. The report concludes with recommendations for U.S. policymakers, business leaders, the media, and philanthropists, all of whom have a vital role to play in shoring up a region adrift.

Ukrainian politicians, diplomats, journalists and intellectuals should start paying more attention to how the countries of South-Eastern Europe (SEE) are currently preparing for their entry into the European Union. Kyiv can accelerate its... more

English title: The borders of Rainbow Europe: LGBTI rights in the European Union enlargement process towards Serbia and Montenegro. El objetivo de este trabajo de fin de grado (bachelor thesis) es analizar cómo se ha implementado una... more

Surveying the Spectrum of EU Member State Policies Towards Kosovo

Preceding the Western Balkans Summit in Trieste in July 2017, HR/VP Federica Mogherini stated that “the Berlin Process is meant to accompany the Balkans’ path towards the European Union […] it is not a substitute, not a competitor, but on... more

Preceding the Western Balkans Summit in Trieste in July 2017, HR/VP Federica Mogherini stated that “the Berlin Process is meant to accompany the Balkans’ path towards the European Union […] it is not a substitute, not a competitor, but on the contrary a facilitator of our common work”. And this was the idea behind the Berlin Process initiated in 2014 by the German chancellor Angela Merkel. In addition, it came at a time when the engagement of the EU looked even more distant, following the announcement of a five-year break from enlargement by the newly elected European Commission President Jean-Claude
Juncker.
Today, the region is faced with a different reality portrayed by the incumbent European Commission President. In his latest State of the Union Speech in the European Parliament, delivered on 13 September 2017, President Juncker revealed a new vision - prospects for EU accession of the current frontrunners from the Western Balkans by 2025. Thus, he leaves a legacy to the next European Commission to move forward with the enlargement agenda. Two weeks later, French President Emmanuel Macron gave his ‘Initiative for Europe’ speech, outlining a French proposal for reforming the Union. Among many proposals he gave in that speech, one related to enlargement, and that was that the EU will “open up to the Balkans once they fully respect the
EU acquis and democratic requirements”. This is important, as France is part of the Berlin Process and is also involved in the Brdo-Brijuni Process including the countries of the Western Balkans and the EU.
The Western Balkan countries, the EU and the member states involved in the process share a common understanding for the positive climate of cooperation the Berlin Process has brought to the region. This is essential for the continuation and evolutionary advancement leading towards the creation of Berlin Process 2.0.
This concludes the scene with which the countries involved in the Berlin Process are currently faced, and this should be the starting point of discussions for the future of the Process. The prevailing assumption in this brief is that the time has come for the Western Balkan countries to show maturity and express willingness to enhance local ownership of the Berlin Process, thus boosting visibility, efficiency and effectiveness in view of achieving better, sustainable and long-term results.

This policy brief aims to emphasise the importance of conservation and sustainable management of the natural heritage of Albania, based on the standards and the directives of the European Union, as an obligation within the integration... more

Ky dokument i shkurtër politikash ka për qëllim të theksojë rëndësinë e ruajtjes dhe mirëmenaxhimit të trashëgimisë natyrore të Shqipërisë, bazuar në standardet dhe direktivat e Bashkimit Evropian, si domosdoshmëri në procesin e... more

The matter of EU enlargement to the Western Balkans has become overshadowed by pressing issues such as Brexit, the rise of the radical right and international terrorism. Notwithstanding the pressure to address these issues accordingly,... more

Serbia between the Cyrillic Alphabet and the Latin Alphabet The paper deals with the discussions about the role of Cyrillic and the Latin alphabet in the Serbian society after the dissolution of Yugoslavia in 1991. Cyrillic is a... more

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EU-Western Balkans relations

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