The Europeanisation of contested states : comparing Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro

Abstract

This paper compares the European Union (EU) integration process in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro. The analysis centres on the different political systems and conflict-resolution mechanisms in these three countries in order to explain their different progress in EU accession. Our main argument is that consolidated statehood is not only key for effective democratization, but also a prerequisite for EU accession and functional EU integration. Systematically applying these concepts to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia and Montenegro, the paper unpacks the connection between internal contestation and a lack of general consensus on EU integration, as well as the connection between different nation-building projects and limited Europeanisation.