Mapping the role of civil society across the western Balkans

Abstract

The six Western Balkan countries are experiencing simultaneous democratization and EU integration processes. The EU has been leveraging the possibility of EU membership and EU conditionality for the implementation of a range of policies and promotion of democratic reforms. In the context of EU conditionality, along the other issues there is an emphasis on the 'week civil society' across the Western Balkan countries. This study examines the situation of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) as agents of change in region. Through a comparative approach, it aims to map the role of civil society across the WB countries to understand the main issues and challenges in state-civil society relationship for WB countries in promoting democratic governance, reconciliation, and EU accession.

Keywords

• civil society
• civil society organizations
• western balkans
• eu integration