Suchergebnisse

Economic reform - the introduction of elements of the market into a planned economy - has been the central political problem for socialist states for at least three decades. This book seeks to elucidate the nature of the problem through a reconsideration of the general theoretical issues, and through a comparative analysis of the practice of economic reform in two countries - Czechoslovakia and Hungary.

In 2010, severalWestern Balkans states have taken steps towards EU integration, but after Croatia's accession, the rest of the region will have to work hard for many years before it is ready to join. EU concerns with problems at home do not favour further enlargement prospects, but sustaining momentum also depends on deep reforms in theWestern Balkans region. More realistic expectations regarding enlargement could buy some time to pay more attention to the democratic quality of the process, building popular trust in political elites and institutions, and enhancing mutual understanding between the EU and theWestern Balkans.

Kosovo's unresolved status is one of the major potential threats to that stability. A 'successful' outcome - one that leads to durable stabilisation of the region and promotes the acceleration of the whole region towards EU integration - presupposes the acceptance of the result of the process by all parties. However, this seems far away, given their diametrically opposed positions at present. The paper seeks to address the issue not primarily as one of the Kosovar Albanians' 'right to self-determination', but as a challenge to Serbia to redefine its national identity and statehood in light of the impasse of its traditional national agenda, and the new opportunities that EU integration now offers. Adapted from the source document.