Introduction Study aims to examine the process of

Transcript:Introduction Study aims to examine the process of:
Introduction Study aims to examine the process of Europeanization of political parties in Montenegro during parliamentary elections 2016. emphasizing the analysis of depth of content of election manifestos Focus of research is to determine the reach and outcome of influence of EU on parties Analysis with „top–down“ approach of European integration on parties in Montenegro, as main agents of comprehensive changes Key question: whether the interest for the concept of Europeanization increased or decreased among Montenegrin political parties during the elections? Why political parties? Crucial stakeholders in the political life which affects the creation of state and individual public policies; Influence of party’s views, believes and opinions on citizens; Important channel of informing the citizens on EU”s policies, advantages and deficiencies introduced by the process of accession. Hence, it is important to determine the level of transformative power of EU among domestic political parties, because in the upcoming period their influence will intensify the pace and quality of process of accession of Montenegro to Union, as well as the increase or decrease in the support of citizens for that process. Montenegro in the European integration process Montenegro as a positive example of process of European integration in the region That progress depends on the capacity of domestic actors to produce structural changes, but at the same time, it is a “governed project” whereby the EU positioned itself as factor of internal changes Montenegro severely suffers due to the issue of contested statehood i.e. weak state capacities due to the lack of resources (personnel, professional staff and funds) and institutionally enrooted corruption and clientelism Through the use of model of foreign initiative, EU influenced the process of democratization and consolidation in Montenegro, by strengthening the institutional capacities with the aim of harmonization with norms and rules of EU. Transformative power of EU is visible, at least, in two cases: Visa liberalisation Recommendations provided through the EU Opinion on the preparedness of Montenegro for membership in EU Operationalisation of research Parliamentary year 2016 was chosen because it represents the period in which Montenegro progressed in accession negotiations with the EU, with 24, out of 35 in total, opened negotiating chapters Empirical analysis was conducted based on three primary sources – election manifestos Relevant parties represent those political structures which have at least 2 MPs in the current composition of Parliament of Montenegro (CMP/MARPOR 5TH reversed edition 2014: 2) Study does not include