Montenegro: Land of Frozen Reforms

Abstract

Although Montenegro has had a multiparty political system for twelve years, it is still not consolidated. Institutions of the rule of law are insufficiently developed and are strongly influenced by non-institutional centers of power. The unsettled issue of national independence and a deep split of the constituency related to this issue have a direct impact on the intensity and totality of social and economic changes in Montenegro. A “frozen” democratic transition of the society, and an overall impoverishment of the majority of the society have spurred more visible signs of citizens’ mistrust in the political system and its representative bodies, such as political parties and parliament. This may be a signal that citizens are fed up with the existing political elite and dissatisfied with their activities, which have now been recognized more as a fight for power, i.e. for personal or group privileges, and less as a serious social activity of common interest.