The politicization of enlargement: The future of the Balkans in Europe
The politicization of enlargement: The future of the Balkans in Europe

Summary/Abstract: This article will consist of a historic account of the EU enlargement policy from the first enlargement to the latest. Reviewing the reasoning for changing the enlargement policies from the post-accession harmonization process of the 1970s and 1980s to the pre-accession process in the 2000s, and European conditionality policies in the Balkans, asking how and why they changed and what it means for a Balkan future in Europe. Throughout the analysis I will utilize Schulz-Forbergs theory on how the power of conceptualisations, such as the concept of enlargement, change over time, as well as theories on European normative power and legitimacy indicators as described by Andreas Føllesdal, Alston and Weiler, and others.

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