Ravaged in the 1990’s conflict and the ensuing transition from communism to capitalism, the Western Balkans has served as a playground for international efforts to modernize and transform divided and impoverished societies. The challenges faced were enormous: transitional justice, privatization, European Union integration, economic liberalization, ethnic divisions and hatred, brain drain, and, more recently, the response to the “Migrant Crisis”. This course will examine the processes, outcomes, and failures of the efforts of local and international actors to overcome these challenges. Focusing on the first-hand experiences of the lecturer and guest lecturers from the region, the course will attempt to engage and provoke thoughts on why and how state-building works or does not. The course will also feature political, sociological, and legal insights into Western Balkan societies and the modus operandi of technical assistance provided by donors. At the end of the course, students will understand the successes and failures of different approaches to transitional justice in the Balkans, the process of European integration of the Western Balkans, the role that the main stakeholders in state-building, such as international organizations and global powers, play in these processes, the critique and opposition towards state-building efforts, and the factors determining successes and failures of rule of law reform projects. (Lecturer: Nedim Hogic)
