UCEuro - The (Un)intentional Collapse of Europeanization: The EU and the Rise of Authoritarianism in Southeast Europe

The project at a glance

Start date:

01 Dec 2021
Duration in months:

48
Funding:

FNR
Principal Investigator(s):

Andela MICANOVIC

About

The rise of right-wing populism in Southeast Europe (SEE) – ruled by unstable and fragile regimes where politicians use social polarization to maintain power – has been intensified by the state of de facto collapse of the process of Europeanization and the decreased interest of the EU in the region, as well as the entry of outside players like Russia and China into regional politics. This state of affairs in SEE is the direct product of policies implemented by different EU-level political actors over the past three decades, as well as of the rational calculations by the regional politicians on how to solidify their hold on power. The central question of this project is: How and why has the EU (un)intentionally contributed to the collapse of Europeanization and to the democratic backsliding in Southeast Europe? The project will lift the veil of policymaking and political negotiations within the EU and between the EU and SEE countries, and expose how and why EU policies toward SEE are failing to promote democracy, but are instead encouraging authoritarianism. Lessons learned and recommendations made will be portable across regions and will serve the EU in the process of future European Neighborhood Policy evaluation and making.

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