Naslov
Croatian Accession to the European Union: EU Democratization Potential and Issues of Democratic Consolidation

Autori
Maldini, Pero

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Poglavlja u knjigama, znanstveni

Knjiga
Croatia and the European Union: Changes and Development

Urednik/ci
Maldini, Pero ; Pauković, Davor

Izdavač
Ashgate Publishing

Grad
Farnham : Burlington (VT)

Godina
2015

Raspon stranica
11-32

ISBN
978-1-4724-3185-1

Ključne riječi
EU accession process, democratic consolidation, social development, modernization, democracy, socio-structural and socio-cultural prerequisites

Sažetak
This chapter examines how and to what extent process of accession to the EU has contributed to the democratization of Croatian society and how the Croatian membership will affect its social development. It analyzes the relationship of the prerequisites for the full membership in the EU and the prerequisites of a consolidated (substantive) democracy. The discussion is on whether the accession means the completion of the democratization process, i.e. whether the process of the EU enlargement is merely a formal normative-institutional (political, economic, legal, and administrative) compliance of the new members, or whether it also possesses a significant qualitative (modernization) dimension, especially regarding the development of the substantive democracy. Consolidated and functional democracy, besides the formal political prerequisites, also includes the indispensable socio-structural and socio- cultural prerequisites (a vibrant civil society, civic culture, political participation, and a developed public sphere that functions as a mechanism of constraint and control of the government). The relative underdevelopment of these preconditions, combined with the lack of appropriate conceptions and strategies of the government, may consequently act dysfunctional in relation to the active position of Croatia in its new surroundings, and consequently on its proportionally smaller benefit from joining the EU. Croatian accession to the EU, instead of being an instrument (strategy) for the realization of national interests, has become the main goal of its (foreign) policy. The lack of clearly defined national interests and a coherent development conception results in an insufficient institutional capacity and the unpreparedness of Croatia for purposeful use of EU's development resources. The main task of the Croatian government is therefore articulation of these key aspects in order to consolidate democracy and further social development.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Politologija

POVEZANOST RADA