Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Political stability and consensus are basic preconditions for the state union of Serbia-Montenegro's accession to the European Union. There has been advancement in the area of legal and economic reforms and constitutional and institutional changes. The whole process of internal consolidation resulted in a positive feasibility study by the EU Council of Ministers. The launch of negotiations on the stabilization and association agreement should start on October 2005, shows Serbia-Montenegro?s resolve to integrate within Europe. There is no dilemma that both Montenegro and Serbia will be members of the European Union, in the context of the existing form of state union, or in such a state framework that enables each be in charge of their European future, in conformity with their interests and capacity. The paper will analyzed following topics:-Approaching of the Serbia and Montenegro to the EU: Political, economic and security dimension-Assistance of the new EU member states to Serbia and Montenegro on its path towards European integrations-Importance for Serbia and Montenegro to accept EU standards and general European values -Compromise and dialogue as methods for resolution of open political issues: Kosovo and Metohija, currently the most complex problem in the region-Serbia and Montenegro (one or two states) as a credible political and economic factor in the Balkans, contributing to peace and stability into region.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The recent death of Slobodan Milosevic provides an ideal time to consider the effects of the International Criminal Court for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on Serbian politics. Set up in by the UN Security Council for the explicit purpose of prosecuting war criminals, the implicit assumption made was that the Court would foster peace and reconciliation in the Balkans. This paper considers the impact of the Court on Serbia?s political development. Has the goal of encouraging peace and reconciliation been achieved? What evidence is there that the Court has pushed Serbia toward becoming a liberal democracy? Answers to these questions are imperative before we make this strategy a central part of the international community?s toolbox for dealing with post-war societies.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper examines the conflicting hypotheses of ethnic hatreds and elite persuasion as causes of ethnic nationalist conflict. These theories essentially differ on the acceptance of culture as a factor in the ethnic nationalist conflict that arises with democratization. The ethnic hatreds theory, that nationalist conflict is caused by ancient culture-based hatreds, has tended to be discredited among scholars who argue that culture is not an adequate explanatory feature in examining conflict. It places its sole emphasis on culture, thus making it insufficient in explaining the causes of nationalist conflict. The elite persuasion theory proposes that leaders orchestrate nationalist conflict for political purposes. In Jack Snyder's formulation (in his work From Voting to Violence: Democratization and Nationalist Conflict), as a state democratizes, elites, those in control of government or society, begin to lose power. In an attempt to regain power, they control the press and make nationalist appeals. As people divide into ethnic nationalist groups, this either intentionally or unintentionally causes conflict. However, this theory focuses on WHY elites persuade, rather than HOW they persuade. Its proponents argue that culture is not a factor and conflict is instead provoked by leaders. Because the elite persuasion theory discredits culture as a cause, it also is an inadequate theory. This study thus synthesizes the two theories and incorporates culture as a cause by introducing the idea of elite manipulation to explain the causes of nationalist conflict. Using the case of Serbia from 1988 to 1999, this study will focus on HOW elites persuade, specifically concentrating on elite manipulation of ethnic nationalism through an examination of political speeches, government documents, and media sources. Culture is a tool elites use to gain power. It will be shown that elites do in fact make appeals to a common history and culture at certain key points. In this case study, this was at the point when leaders were gaining power. Key speeches increased power by mobilizing mass support. Once elites gained power, explicit appeals to a shared history decreased, and they maintained power through control of the media. Nonetheless, culture continued to play a role. What past studies emphasizing elite persuasion have failed to consider is that not only are elites appealing to one ethnic group, but they are also suppressing competing ethnic groups to gain and maintain power. Competing groups were culturally suppressed in Serbia as elites attempted to influence every aspect of life from language to education. Therefore, in place of the elite persuasion theory, which sidelines culture and focuses on populist appeals to one ethno-nationalist group, this study suggests that a more complete theory includes the aspect of culture. Ethnic nationalist conflict is not only caused by elite persuasion but by elite MANIPULATION, including both cultural appeals and cultural suppression. This concept best explains the case of Serbia from 1988 to 1999 by synthesizing the competing theories explaining the ethnic nationalist conflict that occurs as a result of democratization.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The paper assesses party system development in the post-communist world, focusing on the case of Serbia.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: My paper is a case study of the role that Otpor, or Resistance, has played in the removal of the Milosevic regime in Serbia. When we examine Otpor’s role in Serbia’s revolution, we are able to understand how foreign governments support resistance movements abroad and through them cause the collapse of the state system. Otpor originated as a small, student-led organization, however, with the support of the US government it became the pivotal force behind Serbia’s revolution. In the paper, we find that Otpor was successful because it received generous funds from US-based institutions for its activities, it employed Gandhi-style non-resistance methods, and it offered hope to Serbia’s youth.