Publications

Political Parties - Macedonian Edition

Functions and Organisation in Democratic Societies

In this book, political parties are presented as central institutions of a modern democracy. The characteristics and functions of parties, the basic elements of their organisation, their political and social context, as well as the problems of party democracy and the specific challenges faced by parties are the main topics. The book also gives a brief overview of the political party landscape in the Republic of Macedonia and describes their ideologies and political coalitions.

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung among top 10 of Western Europe’s best Think Tanks

The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung has been classified by the current “2012 Go To Think Tanks Report” as one of the ten best Think Tanks of Western Europe. In the overall annual report of the most comprehensive rankings of the 150 world’s top think tanks, the KAS can be found at place 33.

Difficult Times in Macedonia

Political Crisis Report

The political situation in Macedonia has become more difficult and complicated since the publication of the 2012 European Commission Progress Report for the country recommending opening EU accession talks with Macedonia for the fourth year in a row. In December 2012 the EU commission declined to open accession talks and informed the Macedonian government that Macedonia is given time until Spring 2013 to promote good neighbourly relations with Greece considering the “name issues” and with Bulgaria considering the “history issues”.

Transitional Justice in Macedonia and its relations with Democracy

EU Policy Brief 3

This article focuses on the transitional process in a society which has experienced a violent conflict and needs adequate mechanisms to deal with the legacies of the past in order to prevent future violence and pave the way for reconciliation and democratic consolidation.The disintegration of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Yugoslavia) and its legacy has left a number of newly emerged and independent democracies in the Western Balkan region to cope with grave violations of human rights.

Trends in asylum- seeking in light of Macedonia’s accession processes in the European Union

Policy Brief 4

Western European countries have been at the front line of developing instruments designed to control and restrict flows ever since the 1970s when the problem of unwanted immigration and asylum flows began to emerge. Their policy responses subsequently set a standard or pattern for other, ‘new’ asylum countries or transit countries on Europe’s borders, at the same time influencing towards more restrictive policies in this area.

Local Self-Government and Citizen Participation

This year the quarterly “Politiska Misla - Political Thought” celebrates its 10th anniversary. The topic of the 40th jubilee edition is “Local Self-Government and Citizen Participation”. The authors examine the current situation and the realistic needs, wishes and expectations of the citizens at local levels as well as the challenges and perspectives of local self-government and citizen participation in the Republic of Macedonia and the region.

Tackling constitutional challenges on the road to the EU:Perspectives from South-East European accession countries

The compilation of papers is a follow-up activity to the regional conference on the same topic organized by the Association Zenith in 2011 and supported by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Rule of Law Program South East Europe. With the promotion of this compilation, KAS and ZENITH are aiming to maintain, deepen and further expand the debate on the impact of the process of European integration on national constitutions in South-East European accession countries, namely Albania, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

Minority protection in the Republic of Macedonia under the Weight of EU Conditionality

EU Policy brief 2

The debate on conditionality as a principle of enlargement has heralded pre-accession monitoring as a key mechanism of compliance with EU standards. The academic camp has paid, however, a scant attention to the relationship between monitoring and the success or failure of enlargement. Facing the next enlargement round to the Western Balkans, this research paper investigates how progress made by the Republic of Macedonia is monitored in the realm of minority protection.

Trends of minority rights’ protection in the countries of the Adriatic area and the Republic of Macedonia

EU Policy brief 1

In European Union territorial perspective ethnic minorities pass state borders. In the Adriatic and the Balkan area the key to development towards an integrated, harmoni-ous and sustainable socio-economic area is to be found in minorities’ bridging role. Often such role can be a cause for political confrontation, marginalization or, at worse, radicalization processes. The colourful ethnic landscapes of the Adriatic and the Balkan Peninsula embrace different minority groups (historical, national and/or new minori-ties).

Ein kleiner Schritt nach vorn für Mazedonien

Mazedonien hat positive Nachrichten aus Brüssel erhalten. Der Fortschrittsbericht 2012 der Europäischen Kommission bedeutet für das Land einen Schritt nach vorne und lässt bei vielen Mazedoniern wieder Hoffnung auf den baldigen Beginn von EU-Beitrittsverhandlungen aufkommen, weil zum ersten Mal die Verhandlungen zur Lösung des Namensstreits mit Griechenland, auf Anregung der EU-Kommission, parallel zu den Beitrittverhandlungen geführt werden sollen.