Europeanization of the Balkans within an Identity-Based Framework

• Authors: Eriksen Monika
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

The process of Europeanization has been traditionally associated with an economic and political transformation, often undermining the value‑based residual effects such as the state’s or group’s acquiescence to take on a European identity. This dual nature of Europeanization is particularly important in the Balkans, where a highly established sense of self is deeply embedded in the fiber of its people. The goal of a unified Europe, and the Balkan ability or even willingness to become “European” is central to this paper’s analytical approach. A key facet of Europeanization is to create, promote and, more importantly, sustain a sense of a pan‑European identity. However, within multi‑ ethnic and conflicting environments the idea of a national identity is often irresolute, as in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo. The paper tries to conceptualize the notion of Europeanization from a firmly identity‑based framework, discrediting the essentialist approach to identity formation in favor of a more constructivist model. It argues that the notion of a European identity is in fact a shared social value, rather than a tangible idea easily applicable to every situation, and with the Balkans being a particularly difficult case study. In essence, the underlying question is what does the process of Europeanization really mean and how viable is it in the context of a complex environment such as the Balkans?

Keywords

EN

Europeanization; Balkans; nationalism; identity

• Publisher: Księgarnia Akademicka
• Journal: Politeja : Pismo Wydziału Studiów Miedzynarodowych i Politycznych Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego
• Year: 2015
• Issue: 6(37)
• Pages: 193-207

Contributors

author

Eriksen Monika

• Jagiellonian University

References

• Adams T.E., ‘Social Constructivist Approach to Political Identity’ in R.L. Jackson (ed.), Encyclopedia of Identity, Vol. 1, Los Angeles 2010.
• Ancel J., Peuples et nations des Balkans. Géographie politique, Paris 1929.
• Barth F., Ethnic Groups and Boundaries. The Social Organization of Culture Difference, Bergen– Oslo 1969.
• Bartlett W., Croatia. Between the Balkans and Europe, London 2003 (Postcommunist States and Nations, 16).
• Belloni R., ‘European Integration and the Western Balkans: Lessons, Prospects and Limits’, Journal of Balkan and Near Eastern Studies, Vol. 11, No. 3 (2009).
• Boerzel T., ‘Transformative Power Europe? The EU Promotion of Good Governance in Areas of Limited Statehood’ in ERD Workshop “Transforming Political Structures: Security, Institutions and Regional Integration Mechanisms”, Florence 2009.
• Cvijić J., La péninsule balkanique. Géographie humaine, Paris 1918.
• Diamond L., ‘Thinking about Hybrid Regimes’, Journal of Democracy, Vol. 13, No. 2 (2002), at <http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/jod.2002.0025>.
• Harmsen R., Wilson T., ‘Introduction: Approaches to Europeanization’, Yearbook of European Studies, Vol. 4 (2000).
• Howell K., Developing Conceptualizations of Europeanization and European Integration: Mixing Methodologies, 29 November 2002 (ESRC Seminar Series / UA CES Study Group on the Europeanization of British Politics), at <http://aei.pitt.edu/1720/1/Howell.pdf>.
• Huntington S., The Clash of Civilizations and the Remaking of World Order, New York 1996.
• Laderch R., ‘Europeanization of Domestic Politics and Institutions: The Case of France, Journal of Common Market Studies, Vol. 32, No. 1 (1994), at <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468‑5965.1994.tb00485.x>.
• Mowrer P.S., Balkanized Europe; a Study in Political Analysis and Reconstruction, New York 1921.
• Naumović S., ‘National Identity Splits, Deep Rooted Conflicts and (Non) Functioning States: Understanding the Intended and Unintended Consequences of the Clash between the “Two Serbias”’, CAS Sofia Working Paper Series, No. 1 (2003).
• Naumović S., ‘On “Us” as “Them”: Understanding the Historical Bases and Political Uses of Popular Narratives on Serbian Disunity’, CAS Sofia Working Paper Series, No. 1 (2007).
• Olsen J., ‘The Many Faces of Europeanization’, Journal of Common Market Studies, Vol. 40, No. 5 (2002), at <http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1468‑5965.00403>.
• Özkırımlı U., Theories of Nationalism. A Critical Introduction, Basingstoke 2010.
• Pridham G., ‘Change and Continuity in the European Union’s Political Conditionality: Aims, Approach, and Priorities’, Democratization, Vol. 14, No. 3 (2007), at <http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13510340701303303>.
• Radaelli C.M., ‘The Europeanisation of Public Policy’ in K. Featherstone, C. Radaelli (eds.), The Politics of Europeanisation, Oxford 2003.
• Renan E., ‘What is a Nation?’ in H. Bhabha (ed.), Nations and Narration, London 1990.
• Salem H., ‘Croatia Joining the EU, Cuts off Bosnia Food Exports’, The Prague Post online, 10 July 2013, at <http://www.populari.org/files/docs/204.pdf>.
• Schimmelfennig F., Scholtz H., ‘EU Democracy Promotion in the European Neighbourhood: Political Conditionality, Economic Development and Transnational Exchange’, European Union Politics, Vol. 9, No. 2 (2007), at <http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1465116508089085>.
• Todorova M., Imagining the Balkans, Oxford 2009.
• West R., Black Lamb and Grey Falcon. The Record of a Journey through Yugoslavia, London 1937.

Identifiers

DOI

10.12797/Politeja.12.2015.37.12