A Practitioner’s Perspective: Post-Conflict Civil Society Development in the Balkans

Abstract

Post-conflict reconstruction in the Balkans has been very much the effort of the international community which largely authored the Dayton agreement, UNSCR 1244 and the Ohrid Agreement. Without its involvement and pressure the in-country ownership of these agreements may have been limited, if not far worse. Moreover, arguably, it is not reconstruction that is taking place - because what existed previously is not being reconstructed, except perhaps physically - but is instead a delayed transition, the further creation of rule of law states. There is a problem of the balance of power or dualism within the civil society development in the process of transition. This not only between the NGOs, civil society and domestic government, but also the latter and the international community, providing the EU accession path which is surely the heart, perhaps implanted, keeping the transition ticking over.

This chapter is written in a personal capacity and the views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.