Party Responses To The Eu In The Western Balkans: Transformation, Opposition Or Defiance? (global Political Transitions)

This book examines how European issues have played out in Serbian and Croatian party politics since 2000, in the context of significant challenges brought by European integration of the Western Balkans. It provides a comprehensive analysis of how political parties in these countries have determined and shifted their positions on the EU, by exploring the effect and interaction of party ideology and strategy, position within the party system, relations with the general public and voters as well as transnational party linkages. The author argues that the particular nature of European issues, closely related to crucial identity and statehood dilemmas in these post-conflict societies, largely determined party stances on the EU, feeding significant Eurosceptic sentiments. At the same time, a number of core parties underwent a rapid pro-EU conversion, pragmatically responding to internal and external incentives in the context of dynamic electoral competition and strong EU presence, and aimed at maximising their chances of securing executive office. The book will be of interest to advanced students and scholars in the fields of comparative politics, Western Balkan politics, and EU studies. Contents 6 List of Figures 8 List of Tables 9 Acknowledgements 10 Chapter 1: Political Parties and the European Union 12 Introduction 12 Explaining Party Responses to the EU 20 Conceptualising Party Responses to the EU 26 Conceptual Models in EU Candidate Countries 30 Research Design 34 Plan of the Book 36 Notes 39 Bibliography 40 Chapter 2: Serbia, Croatia and the European Union 45 Serbian and Croatian Relations with the EU 45 A Decade of Lost Opportunities (1990–2000) 46 A Difficult Role for Latecomers (2000–2017) 49 Serbian and Croatian Party Politics Since 2000 53 Serbian Party Politics Since 2000: The Agony of Political and State Fragmentation 53 Croatian Party Politics Since 2000: A Gradual Post-conflict Normalisation and Stabilisation 58 Conclusion 60 Bibliography 62 Chapter 3: Ideology, Identity and Party Attitudes Towards the EU 65 Does Party Ideology Drive Party Responses to the EU? 66 Ideology and Party Attitudes Towards the EU in Serbia and Croatia 69 Social Democratic Parties and the EU 71 Conservative Parties and the EU 81 Christian Democratic and Agrarian Parties and the EU 92 Liberal Parties and the EU 97 Radical Right Parties and the EU 100 Dimensions of Ideology and Party Attitudes Towards the EU in Serbia and Croatia 104 Conclusion 112 Notes 115 Bibliography 115 Chapter 4: Party Strategy and Attitudes Towards the EU 123 Does Party Strategy Drive Party Responses to the EU? 124 Party Strategy and Attitudes Towards the EU in Serbia and Croatia 128 The Socialist Party of Serbia 128 The Serbian Progressive Party 135 The Croatian Democratic Union 139 Party Strategy and Other Parties’ Attitudes Towards the EU 143 Euroscepticism on the Political Periphery 145 Conclusion 150 Notes 154 Bibliography 154 Chapter 5: Public, Voters’ and Party Attitudes Towards the EU 159 Do Parties Respond to Public Preferences? 160 Party Attitudes Towards the EU and Public Opinion 162 Party Attitudes Towards the EU and Their Core Voters 168 Socialist Party of Serbia 172 Serbian Progressive Party 175 Democratic Party of Serbia 177 Other Parties’ Attitudes Towards the EU and Their Core Voters 180 Croatian Parties’ Attitudes Towards the EU and Their Core Voters 181 Conclusion 185 Notes 188 Bibliography 189 Chapter 6: Transnational Party Politics and Attitudes Towards the EU 194 Does Transnational Party Politics Drive Party Responses to the EU? 195 Transnational Party Politics: Direct and Indirect Impact 197 Serbian and Croatian Parties and Their Transnational Relations 199 The European People’s Party (EPP) 200 From Fascination to Regression: The Croatian Democratic Union and the European People’s Party 206 A Rebellious Member: The Democratic Party of Serbia and the European People’s Party 210 Membership at Long Last: The Serbian Progressive Party and the European People’s Party 213 The Party of European Socialists (PES) 215 An Eternal Candidate? The Socialist Party of Serbia and the Party of European Socialists 218 The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE Party) 220 In ‘Comfortable Isolation’? Radical Right Parties and Transnational Party Politics 221 Parties’ Relations with EU Institutions and Foreign Governments 222 Conclusion 228 Notes 232 Bibliography 232 Chapter 7: Transformation, Opposition or Defiance in the Western Balkans? 237 Conceptualising Party Responses to the EU 238 What Drives Party Responses to the EU? 241 Ideology, Strategy and Party Responses to the EU 244 Public, Voters’ and Party Responses to the EU: ‘Blatant Misrepresentation’? 249 The External Impact on Party Responses to the EU 251 Party Responses to the EU in the Post-Yugoslav Context 254 The Crisis of European Integration and Party Responses to the EU 256 Conclusion 258 Bibliography 261 Appendix A: List of Interviewees 266 Serbia 266 Politicians 266 Country experts 267 Croatia 268 Politicians 268 Country Experts 268 Brussels 269 Appendix B: Interview Questions (Template) 270 Bibliography 272 Index 293 Annotation Examines how European issues have played out in Serbian and Croatian party politics since 2000, in the context of significant challenges brought by European integration of the Western Balkans. It provides a comprehensive analysis of how political parties in these countries have determined and shifted their positions on the EU, by exploring the effect and interaction of party ideology and strategy, position within the party system, relations with the general public and voters as well as transnational party linkages. The author argues that the particular nature of European issues, closely related to crucial identity and statehood dilemmas in these post-conflict societies, largely determined party stances on the EU, feeding significant Eurosceptic sentiments Front Matter ....Pages i-xii Political Parties and the European Union (Marko Stojić)....Pages 1-33 Serbia, Croatia and the European Union (Marko Stojić)....Pages 35-54 Ideology, Identity and Party Attitudes Towards the EU (Marko Stojić)....Pages 55-112 Party Strategy and Attitudes Towards the EU (Marko Stojić)....Pages 113-148 Public, Voters’ and Party Attitudes Towards the EU (Marko Stojić)....Pages 149-183 Transnational Party Politics and Attitudes Towards the EU (Marko Stojić)....Pages 185-227 Transformation, Opposition or Defiance in the Western Balkans? (Marko Stojić)....Pages 229-257 Back Matter ....Pages 259-291