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22 July 2011
GPPi publishes research paper on political engineering in Kosovo
In July 2011 GPPi Research Associate Steffen Eckhard published an article on political engineering in Kosovo for the scientific journal Amsterdam Social Science. In the paper, titled Political Engineering in Kosovo – Lessons from Confronting Institutional Theory and Practice, Eckhard reviews the international approach to institution building in Kosovo between 1999-2008 and argues that after a first phase of theory based institutional engineering, the international community yielded to short term political considerations. As a consequence, later changes to Kosovo's political system constitute responses to political negotiations with Serbia that partially contradict the aim of long term societal reconciliation.
After introducing the UN protectorate in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the actors involved in institutional building, the article outlines two distinct theoretical perspectives on institutional engineering: centripetalism and consociationalism. After this section, two phases of political engineering in Kosovo are identified and analyzed. The first phase refers to provisions made under UNMIK rule between 1999-2008, the second to the Ahtisaari Plan that accompanied Kosovo’s declaration of independence in 2008.
Based on the analysis, Eckhard argues that the contemporary political system in Kosovo neatly fits the consociationalist approach. However, drawing on the alternative centripetalist position, the article shows that the first approach is misleading with respect to the long-term goal of societal peace and stability. Taking into consideration international short-term political demands, the article finally concludes that the international community left the path of theory-based engineering. As a consequence, the current development renders further institutional changes fostering long-term societal reconciliation highly unlikely.
Click here to read the article Political Engineering in Kosovo – Lessons from Confronting Institutional Theory and Practice.
For related research, see GPPi's peace and security focus area.
For more information, please contact Steffen Eckhard.