Evaluating EU Democracy Promotion Efforts in the Western Balkans: The Case of the Republic of Serbia

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 24 Sayı: 1

Simge Pelit , Murat Önsoy

https://doi.org/10.32450/aacd.1513847

Öz

The European Union (EU) has consistently positioned itself as a committed normative power, dedicated to the promotion of liberal democratic values both within its borders and beyond. In this context, promotion of democracy stands as a fundamental objective of its foreign policy, and it leverages a variety of tools to exert influence. The post-Socialist Balkans serves as a critical testing ground for the EU's efforts in this domain. Since the early 2000s, the Union has embarked on a dual process of Europeanisation and post-conflict transformation within the region where the state of democracy remains still problematic. This article provides an evaluation of the EU's democracy promotion policy in the Republic of Serbia. Recognizing the EU’s limited success in democratizing the Republic of Serbia, it delves into the underlying reasons for the shortcomings. The analysis posits that the EU's failure in Serbia can be attributed to three primary factors: an inconsistent approach, a shifting focus during crises, and the impact of opportunistic actors.

Anahtar Kelimeler

European Union, democracy promotion, liberal democracy, Western Balkans, Serbia

Batı Balkanlar'da AB Demokrasi Teşviki Çabalarının Değerlendirmesi: Sırbistan Cumhuriyeti Örneği

Öz

Avrupa Birliği (AB), sınırları içinde ve ötesinde liberal demokratik değerlerin teşvikine kendini adamış, kararlı bir normatif güç olarak kendisini sürekli olarak konumlandırmıştır. Bu bağlamda, demokrasinin teşvik edilmesi dış politikasının temel bir hedefi olarak durmakta ve etki yaratmak için çeşitli araçlardan yararlanmaktadır. Sosyalizm sonrası Balkanlar, AB'nin bu alandaki çabaları için kritik bir test alanı teşkil etmektedir. Birlik, 2000'li yılların başından bu yana, demokrasi durumunun hala sorunlu olduğu bu bölgede Avrupalılaşma ve çatışma sonrası dönüşüm olmak üzere ikili bir süreç başlatmıştır. Bu makale AB'nin Sırbistan Cumhuriyeti'ndeki demokrasiyi teşvik politikasının bir değerlendirmesini sunmaktadır. AB'nin Sırbistan Cumhuriyeti'ni demokratikleştirmedeki sınırlı başarısını kabul ederek, eksikliklerin altında yatan nedenleri araştırmaktadır. Analiz, AB'nin Sırbistan'daki başarısızlığının üç temel faktöre atfedilebileceğini öne sürmektedir: tutarsız bir yaklaşım, krizler sırasında değişen odak noktası ve fırsatçı aktörlerin etkisi.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Avrupa Birliği, Demokrasi Teşviki, liberal demokrasi, Batı Balkanlar, Sırbistan

Kaynakça

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