Does NATO Enlargement Spread Democracy? The Democratic Stabilization of Western Balkan Countries

KŘÍŽ, Zdeněk and Markéta STIXOVÁ. Does NATO Enlargement Spread Democracy? The Democratic Stabilization of Western Balkan Countries. Středoevropské politické studie. Brno: Mezinárodní politologický ústav MU Brno, 2012, vol. 2012, No 1, p. 1-34. ISSN 1212-7817.

Basic information

• Original name: Does NATO Enlargement Spread Democracy? The Democratic Stabilization of Western Balkan Countries
• Name in Czech: Přispívá rozšiřování NATO k šíření demokracie? Demokratická stabilizace západního Balkánu
• Authors: KŘÍŽ, Zdeněk (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Markéta STIXOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Středoevropské politické studie, Brno, Mezinárodní politologický ústav MU Brno, 2012, 1212-7817.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 50601 Political science
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14230/12:00057979
• Organization unit: Faculty of Social Studies
• Keywords (in Czech): NATO enlargement; democratization; Western Balkans
• Keywords in English: rozšiřování NATO; demokratizace; západní Balkán
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

This article deals with NATO enlargement toward Western Balkan countries and tries to answer the question of whether NATO enlargement has contributed to the democratic stabilization of the Western Balkans. The authors conclude that NATO has truly contributed to the democratic stabilization of candidate countries. Nevertheless, we have no evidence supporting the thesis that the democratic stabilization of Albania, Croatia, or Macedonia is progressing solely due to the NATO enlargement policy; it is not clear that NATO is viewed as one of the Western institutions into which these countries want to join. On the one hand, this study shows that NATO enlargement may not have as significant an impact on democratization as has been hoped for by its proponents, who started this process in the mid-90s. On the other hand, the impact of NATO on the consolidation of democratic regimes in candidate countries is by no means zero or even marginal.

Abstract (in Czech)

This article deals with NATO enlargement toward Western Balkan countries and tries to answer the question of whether NATO enlargement has contributed to the democratic stabilization of the Western Balkans. The authors conclude that NATO has truly contributed to the democratic stabilization of candidate countries. Nevertheless, we have no evidence supporting the thesis that the democratic stabilization of Albania, Croatia, or Macedonia is progressing solely due to the NATO enlargement policy; it is not clear that NATO is viewed as one of the Western institutions into which these countries want to join. On the one hand, this study shows that NATO enlargement may not have as significant an impact on democratization as has been hoped for by its proponents, who started this process in the mid-90s. On the other hand, the impact of NATO on the consolidation of democratic regimes in candidate countries is by no means zero or even marginal.

Links

• GA407/09/0153, research and development project: Name: Ozbrojené konflikty v mezinárodních vztazích po skončení studené války

Investor: Czech Science Foundation, Armed conflicts in international relations after the end of the Cold War