In another take on flawed electoral accountability, Albana Shehaj (Postdoctoral Researcher at the Center for European Studies at Harvard University) argues that corrupt politicians are too easily able to use state resources to buy off voters. We should focus our…
Blog Archives
Strengthening electoral accountability is crucial in tackling corruption in the Western Balkans
Tagged with: #corruption, accountability, Albania, anti-corruption protests, Western Balkans
Posted in Governance, Politics, Regions, Sussex-Harriman conference
Posted in Governance, Politics, Regions, Sussex-Harriman conference
The chronic vulnerability of the Western Balkans makes the region a key target for human trafficking
Human trafficking by local and international criminal syndicates came to the Balkans during the wars in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Kosovo during the 1990s. Tanya Domi (Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University) argues that an…
Tagged with: #corruption, Bosnia and Herzegovina, human trafficking, Western Balkans
Posted in Regions, Sussex-Harriman conference
Posted in Regions, Sussex-Harriman conference
North Macedonia’s experience in trying to dismantle state capture: policy must be backed by research
Writing about North Macedonia’s experience in addressing pervasive grand corruption as exposed by leaked tapes in 2015, Misha Popovikj (Institute for Democracy Societas Civilis, Skopje) argues that efforts to dismantle state capture should be preceded by a thorough diagnosis of…
Tagged with: #corruption, European Commission, European Union, North Macedonia, Priebe report, state capture, Western Balkans
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
In Kosovo, journalists and civil society beat organised crime by getting more organised
Recent elections in Kosovo saw the opposition defeat long-standing incumbents, electing a new generation with fresh talent and integrity. Jeta Xharra (Balkan Investigative Reporting Network) explains the role that civil society played in making it happen. It is a rare moment…
Tagged with: #corruption, activisim, anti-corruption, civil society, elections, Kosovo, media, organised crime
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
Can the European Union tackle corruption and state capture?
While the EU is far from a silver bullet, Dimitar Bechev argues that it is still a badly-needed ally in strengthening the rule of law in the Balkans. But for enlargement to make good on its original promise, the EU…
Tagged with: #corruption, Bulgaria, Croatia, European Union, Hungary, KTB, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, rule of law, Serbia, Western Balkans
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
Caught in a vicious circle: how corrosive capital perpetuates state capture in the Balkans
In discussing the mutually reinforcing role of authoritarianism and ‘corrosive capital’, Tena Prelec argues that it is not enough to attract foreign investments to stimulate economic growth that will benefit the whole population; it is essential to guarantee the right…
Tagged with: #corruption, corrosive capital, foreign actors in the Balkans, illiberalism, malign influence, state capture, Western Balkans
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
What we talk about when we talk about state capture: reflections from Serbia
A life lived in Belgrade is a life lived in four countries. A lot has changed, but not much has changed for the better. Slobodan Georgiev (Balkan Investigative Reporting Network) reports with wry sarcasm on the realities of life as a…
Tagged with: #corruption, Balkans, investigative journalism, state capture
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
Investigative journalists must show citizens the way: We can clean up government without resorting to rancour or nationalism
In a reflection on the role of journalists worldwide, and in the Balkans in particular, Aida Cerkez and Rosemary Armao vent their frustration about one of the biggest challenges of investigative reporting: how to make people care. Do citizens really…
Tagged with: #corruption, Amir Zukić, Balkans, OCCRP, Western Balkans, Zlatibor Lončar
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
Politicised institutions are key obstacle to fighting corruption in Montenegro
Montenegro has on the face of it made good progress in adopting anti-corruption laws, but frequent political scandals suggest they are not being implemented. Jovana Marović, Executive Director of the Politikon Network, a think tank based in Podgorica, and a…
Tagged with: #corruption, EU conditionality, EU Enlargement, institutions, Montenegro, transparency
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
Posted in Sussex-Harriman conference
Civil society needs support to fight corruption and organised crime in the Western Balkans
Civil society organisations (CSOs) and investigative journalists in the Western Balkans are critical to raising awareness about fighting corruption and organised crime, as well as supporting state authorities to develop effective strategies. But they lack capacity and resources to address…
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