engleski

National independence, democracy and development: the Balkan ending of the modern myths

National independence, democracy and development are becoming myths, i.e. unreliable stories, in most countries ofthe former Yugoslavia. Three different accouns are offered to explain each defeat ofthe modernity. Firstly national dependence is due thefact that the peripheral countries in this area, unlike the core (European) states, do nothave companies strong enough to outgrow "generalized monopolies"in Amin's terms. Secondly liberal (representative) democracy, for the time being, does notprovide solutions to key social problems such as rising unemployment, corruption, andpower concentrated in various cliaues. Eventually next to domestic countertendencies to modernity, the developmentstalemate is caused by paradigm-shiftin the VVestern economic strategy and poIicy: from welfare andsecurity to a laissez-faire economy and risk-laden society asgoals. The lattergoals also contradict the path-dependencies of post- Yugoslavian economies and societies markedwith collectivism and paternalism. As a result, the countries are increasingly incapable ofdevelopmentin termsofthe free-market economy individualism and risk behavior. In conclusion, some ideasfor alternative developments are proposed based on a conceptof cultural policy of sustainable development, triangle ofdemocratic institutions, andsoftpower. These ideasstill belong to paradigmatic trinity ofmodernity, i.e.freedom, equality andfraternity, thistime with some modified contents as regards the meanings ofdemocracy, development and national sovereignty.

dependence; oligarchic rule; underdevelopment; Kosovo; countries of the former Yugoslavia; alternative developments

Rad je objavljen i recenziran u časopisu NJOHJA koji izdaju Institute for Social Sciences and Humanities i Facultv of Philosophy-University of Pristina. Iako je znanstvenog karaktera i forme rad je smješten u kategoriju „drugi radovi“ jer Kosovo još nema vlastiti ISSN. Konkretnije rečeno, rad nije smješten u kategoriju „rad u časopisu“, gdje bi po svojoj prirodi trebao biti smješten, jer časopis NJOHJA trenutno nema službeni ISSN podatak.