THE EU - BALKANS ENLARGEMENT PROCESS DEADLOCK: THE ROLE OF PERCEPTIONS, STABILITOCRACY, AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Year 2023, Issue: 24, 131 - 153, 21.09.2023

Zoran Ivanov

https://doi.org/10.54842/ustich.1315682

Abstract

The EU enlargement process has its dynamics throughout the years that still keep some of Balkan countries outside of its borders. Starting point for this analysis is perception matters. Hence, it aims to better understand the critical events from the history of interactions between EU and western part of Balkans that shaped the mutual perception that keep Balkan countries located in western part of the region away from the EU.

The article will analyze both sides, the EU, and the countries of western part of Balkans. First, it argues that the policy of the EU enlargement with western Balkan has deep roots in history. Hence, we will identify manifests that shaped EU’s perceptions towards that region of Balkans. It will identify building blocks for enlargement resistance. Second, will scrutinize the unwillingness of the Balkan political elites to comply with accession criteria. Further, it will examine the internal regional manifests that contribute to the EU’s perception and undermine development and prosperity. Many regional politicians have mastered to talk the EU talk without delivering any genuine results. It will identify building blocks of stabilitocracy.

At the end, it will give recommendations that are implied from the stalled process. Since EU membership is first responsibility than a privilege, priority should be given to what western Balkan countries can do for themselves. Only after they can attract the EU interests to open enlargement again.

Keywords

enlargement, stabilitocracy, resistance, geopolitics, instability, culture

AB - BALKANLAR GENİŞLEME SÜRECİ ÇIKMAZI: ALGILAR, İSTİKRAR VE TAVSİYELERİN ROLÜ

Abstract

AB genişleme süreci, yıllar boyunca Balkanların batı kesiminde yer alan ülkeleri hala sınırlarının dışında tutan dinamiklere sahiptir. Bu analizin başlangıç noktası algı meselesidir. Bu nedenle, Balkan bölgesinin batı kesimindeki ülkeleri AB'den uzak tutan karşılıklı algıyı şekillendiren AB ve batı Balkan etkileşimlerinin tarihindeki kritik olayları daha iyi anlamayı amaçlamaktadır.

Makale, AB ve batı Balkanlar olmak üzere her iki taraflı da analiz edecektir. İlk olarak, AB'nin Balkanların batı kesiminde bulunan ülkelerle genişleme politikasının tarihte derin kökleri olduğu savunulmaktadır. Bu nedenle, AB'nin batı Balkanlara yönelik algılarını şekillendiren tezahürler tespit edilecektir. Genişleme direncinin yapı taşları belirlenecektir. İkinci olarak, Balkan siyasi elitlerinin katılım kriterlerine uyma konusundaki isteksizliği incelenecektir. Ayrıca, AB'nin algısına katkıda bulunan ve kalkınma ve refahı baltalayan bölgesel iç tezahürleri inceleyecektir. Birçok bölgesel siyasetçi, gerçek bir sonuç ortaya koymadan AB ağzıyla konuşmakta ustalaşmıştır. İstikrarlı demokrasinin yapı taşlarını tanımlayacaktır.

Son olarak, duraksamış süreçten çıkarılabilecek tavsiyelerde bulunacaktır. AB üyeliği bir ayrıcalıktan ziyade bir sorumluluk olduğundan, öncelik batı Balkan ülkelerinin kendileri için neler yapabileceklerine verilmelidir. Ancak bundan sonra AB'nin ilgisini tekrar genişlemeye çekebilirler.

Keywords

genişleme, stabilitokrasi, direniş, jeopolitik, istikrarsızlık, kültür

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