Actors without Society. The role of civil actors in the postcommunist transformation

Author(s): Srđan Dvornik / Language(s): English

This study is primarily based on experiences during activist commitments and in my working with international foundations. The encouragement to undertake the study came from Dr. Azra Džajic´-Weber, the director of the Regional Office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation in Sarajevo from 1998 to 2007. The work was originally conceived as a collection and interpretation of the experiences of a broad variety of civic actors in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia. In the early stage, however, it became obvious that it was necessary first to examine, and even “deconstruct,” the fundamental concepts that have framed the original approach. Rather than assuming that building democracy and rule of law was already underway – as well as the development of civil society – it turned out that many problems lay in those very assumptions. The most important is the problem of overlooking the fact that in the postcommunist transformation, society itself had yet to be established. // Therefore, the work in its final outcome is mostly dedicated to the very meaning of the basic determinants of the postcommunist transformation, in order to fathom the civic actors’ place within the newly defined framework. They are not referred to as a “civil society” but as civil actors, because it is they who, together with other factors, develop a society as a complex of autonomous relations and transactions, as well as a field for civic commitment.

Sloboda, pluralizam i nacionalizam

Author(s): Enes Kulenović / Language(s): Croatian

Isaiah Berlin nikada nije pokušao izložiti svoju misao kao sustavnu teoriju. Galipeau je ustvrdio kako Berlin nije sustavni mislilac, dok je Michael Walzer upozorio kako sustav jednostavno nije Berlinov stil (Galipeau, 1994, 165). Dva su razloga zbog kojih Berlin nije sebi zadao da sustavno izloži i poveže svoje glavne argumente. Prvo, kao autor bio je zaokupljen različitim temama – poviješću političkih ideja, pitanjem slobodne volje i determinizma, problemom političke slobode, temom nacionalnog i kulturnog identiteta, odnosom prosvjetiteljstva i romantizma, te vrijednosnim pluralizmom – za koje nije smatrao da ih je nužno podvesti pod zajednički nazivnik. S druge strane, nije bio sklon sveobuhvatnim teorijama koje žele objasniti sveukupnu povijest čovječanstva i sve društvene odnose. Za Berlina, takve teorije neizbježno simplificiraju kompleksnost ljudskih motiva i djelovanja, najčešće do te mjere da gube sposobnost valjano ih objasniti. To objašnjava i zašto je Berlin odabrao esej kao idealnu formu prezentiranja vlastitih ideja te stoga nije, osim rane studije o Marxu, nikada napisao knjigu.

Debele knjige i debele mačke

Author(s): Dimitrije Boarov / Language(s): Serbian

Gotovo protestantska, „malograđanska vizija“, navodno izmišljena u Vojvodini po ugledu na druge evropske nacije, večito je kod nas osuđivana i omalovažavana iz sredina koje su za ideju nacionalnog oslobođenja i ujedinjenja vekovima krvarile po šumama i gorama naše zemlje ponosne. Naučeni da uz ladan burek i vruće pivo preziremo malograđanštinu, nastavili smo da preziremo i Vojvodinu. Možda će se ovakvo shvatanje u Srbiji promeniti po sledećoj logici zaključivanja: Vojvodina je bila opasno provincijalna i malograđanska, sve dok nismo belodano videli da je i malograđanština mnogo bolja od varvarstva.

Krijimi i politikave efektive gjino: model për përforcimin e dialogut dhe kyçjen e qytetarëve bashkësisë në procesin e krijimit të politikave të vetëdijëshme gjino

Author(s): Ana Blazheva,Katerina Kolozova,Marija Savovska,Artan Sadiku,Suzana Grozdanovska,Kalina Lechevska,Viktorija Borovska / Language(s): Albanian

Политика без политика : "Ние" и "те" в протестите и кризата на представителството

Author(s): Madlen Nikolova,Zhana Tsoneva,Georgi Medarov / Language(s): Bulgarian

100 cele mai presante probleme ale Republicii Moldova în 2006

Author(s): Igor Munteanu,Ghenadie Mocanu,Veaceslav Ioniţă,Inga Sinchevici / Language(s): Romanian

This intelligent product provides comparative and analytical elements for the adoption of superior techniques for evaluating decisions that involve significant costs for our society. At the same time, the intention of the authors of this study is to encourage critical reflection and the comparative approach to the elaboration of efficient and effective public policies, as well as to the qualitative increase of the level of public debates on these topics of interest. // The research team consisted of 3 experts and a coordinator. The study was coordinated by Igor Munteanu, and the research team consisted of Ghenadie Mocanu (political analyst), Veaceslav Ioniţă (economist), Inga Sinchevici (sociologist). // The authors of the study sincerely thank the Friedrich Ebert Foundation for the support provided in the elaboration of this research, but also for the encouragement it offered us during this complex study.

100 of the most pressing Issues in the Republic of Moldova in 2007

Author(s): Ion Marandici,Dumitru Lazur,Ion Guzun,Stela Guzun,Nadejda Caprar,Diana Cheianu-Andrei,Olesea Cruc,Alexandru Lesanu / Language(s): English

The peculiarity of 2007 was the fact that it was the last year of the implementation of the EU Action Plan by the Republic of Moldova facing a severe drought. In 2006, the authorities of the Republic of Moldova had put forth the efforts to convince the European officials and the western partners of the possibilities of the country to implement the stipulations of the Action Plan RM-EU, the efforts have been materialized by the creating and sending reports regarding the implementation of the RM-EU AP. In 2007, the Moldovan authorities are facing the situation when they have to prove to the citizens and to themselves that the implementation of the Action Plan RM-EU did not represent just efforts but also clear results in bringing Moldova closer to EU. Or the implementation of this very document represented a capacity and availability test of the Republic of Moldova to approach the European Union. // This smart product offers comparative and analytical elements for the adoption of some superior techniques of evaluation of some decisions that involve important costs for our society. Meanwhile, the intention of the authors of this study is to encourage critical thinking and comparative approach regarding drafting of efficient and effective public policies as well as qualitative growth of the level of public debates on these issues of interest.

Optužujem!

Author(s): Tatjana Tagirov / Language(s): Croatian

Predsednički izbori 2008 : okolnosti i rezultat

Author(s): / Language(s): Serbian

OKO IZBORA 14 - Ustavni referendum 28. i 29. oktobar 2006.

Author(s): / Language(s): Serbian

Two questions determined the fate of the new Constitution in the fall of 2006. Did Serbia need a new Constitution? It is! It was necessary to make up for what was missed and to break the Serbian understanding of political dynamics according to which there is always time for everything and according to which what can be done both today and tomorrow should be left for tomorrow, regardless of the fact that today is cheaper and tomorrow is more expensive. (Milošević started his transition with his constitution, after all, like all transitional countries. Democratic Serbia waited five years to start its transition with a consensus-constitution, i.e. an agreement with the political parties of Milosevic's provenance.)

OKO IZBORA 09 - Izveštaj sa predsedničkih izbora u Republici Srbiji (septembar - oktobar 2002)

Author(s): / Language(s): Serbian

With the declaration of citizens on September 29 (first election round) and October 13, 2002 (second election round) for the President of the Republic of Serbia, the political life of Serbia entered a qualitatively new phase of development. After a decade of elections that were significantly marked by an autocratic political order, electoral irregularities and civil protests that followed the post-election periods, these elections were conducted in a significantly different political and social conditions.

OKO IZBORA 07 - Izveštaj sa opštih izbora za Skupštinu Kosova (17. novembra 2001. godine)

Author(s): / Language(s): Serbian

The general elections for the Assembly of Kosovo, held on October 17, 2001, will be remembered, among other things, for the fact that, for the first time in the history of domestic parliamentarism, the organization and implementation of elections in the FRY was entrusted to an international organization.

OKO IZBORA 06 - Izveštaj sa prevremenih parlamentarnih izbora u Republici Crnoj Gori (22. aprila 2001. godine)

Author(s): / Language(s): Serbian

Continuing the tradition of cooperation in the field of non-partisan and neutral election observation, the Center for Free Elections and Democracy from Belgrade and the Monitoring Center from Podgorica jointly organized the observation of early parliamentary elections in Montenegro held on April 22, 2001.

OKO IZBORA 05 - Izveštaj sa prevremenih parlamentarnih izbora u Republici Srbiji (23. decembra 2000. Godine)

Author(s): / Language(s): Serbian

Early elections for members of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, held on December 23, 2000, took place in conditions that differed in many ways from the conditions in which elections were held in the past decade, especially from the conditions in which the September elections were held.

OKO IZBORA 12 - Izveštaj sa ponovljenih predsedničkih izbora u Republici Srbiji (16. novembar 2003)

Author(s): Ivan Nikolić / Language(s): Serbian

In this report, About Election 12, we present data and observations about the repeated presidential elections, held on November 16, 2003. The report consists of contributions from CeSID's volunteers, associates and experts, grouped into several thematic units.

OKO IZBORA 13 - Izveštaj sa vanrednih parlamentarnih izbora u Republici Srbiji (28. decembar 2003. godine)

Author(s): Ivan Nikolić / Language(s): Serbian

Emisija „Ljudi i događaji“: analiza (ne)ispunjenih standarda javnog servisa RTCG

Author(s): Adnan Prekic / Language(s): Montenegrine

The analysis of the content of the show People and Events, broadcast in 2024 on RTCG, indicates serious conceptual and editorial deficiencies in the selection, presentation and interpretation of information. Instead of fulfilling its scientific and educational function through accurate, scientifically based and unbiased content, the show is dominated by a pronounced political and ideological bias, with selective extraction of information that shapes the narrative in accordance with current political interests. The affirmation of revisionist interpretations of historical events, which are not aimed at education and encouragement of critical thinking, but reflect daily political and ideological agendas, has also been recorded. Of particular concern is the marginalization of Montenegrin cultural and historical identity, the relativization of the anti-fascist heritage and the distorted interpretation of events from the 1990s, which undermines the potential of the RTCG public service to objectively inform and educate the public.

50+ Frymëzime si OShC-të ndryshojnë shoqërinë

Author(s): Mira Popović Trstenjak,Petar Đukanović,Ivana Matanovič / Language(s): Albanian

The publication provides insight into joint efforts aimed at strengthening civil society organizations (CSOs) in Montenegro. Through the M'BASE program, the implementation of as many as 91 projects across the country was supported, a platform was created for strengthening the capacity of organizations, empowering local communities and stimulating social changes in the key areas of democratization and Europeanization, the position of young people, gender equality, environmental protection, other aspects of human rights, but also education, the fight against corruption and many others.

Otključavanje sefa – Crna Gora i EU fondovi tokom 12 godina pregovora

Author(s): Mila Kasalica / Language(s): Montenegrine

Joining the European Union is a story about funds. The EU accession agenda is a model full of complex projects in the service of the public policies of a developing country, a candidate country and a beneficiary of funds, framed by various activities and segments, which at every step, in every phase, every week, are linked to realization through monetary expressions and reporting verifiability.

Prećutna marginalizacija – civilno društvo i vladavina prava u pregovorima

Author(s): Dina Bajramspahić,Daliborka Uljarević / Language(s): Montenegrine

Montenegro has a reputation as a country with an energetic civil society. It was often said about the non-governmental sector that, during the ten-year rule of one dominant political party and its coalition partners, it also played the role of the opposition, in the sense of alternative and criticism of public policies. The political changes of 2020 had a multiple impact on the state of civil society, which, among other things, was "affected" by the outflow of personnel, but also by reduced vigilance, critical approach and agility of a number of non-governmental organizations.