Backsliding into the past: Delegative democracies in the Western Balkans

Despite being interlocked in the EU’s integration process, the countries of the Western Balkans (WB) seemingly have not been implementing the democratic reforms, which are required for EU-membership. The opposite is taking place, the countries’ quality of democracy is declining and the political systems are often dominated by one person – a male leader. In the Western Balkan countries these developments simultaneously take place with the phenomenon of state capture and "stabiliocracies", i.e. regimes that are promising internal and external security. Guillermo O’Donnell’s concept of the delegative democracies (O’Donnell 1994, also Merkel 2004:50) focuses on the factual and constitutional limits of political office. Political institutions ensure that elected representatives exercise their power within their political competences and comply within the rules and norms connected with their office. What democracy requires is a solid system of horizontal accountability, whereby political leaders are held accountable, if constitutional boundaries are crossed. Strong political institutions can deal with cases of misuse of power, thereby initiating processes to sanction the elected representatives. Weak political institutions are no longer able to react adequately, hence democratic backsliding occurs. The current political situation in some countries of the WB indicates that the horizontal accountability has been damaged and political institutions are weakened. Informal networks boost the power of political leaders, who have access to economic ventures that provide money to bolster their political power. Media is streamlined, NGOs and CSOs are restricted in their work and the state’s economy is observed by the political elite. The powerful leaders have a strong support in parliament and the judiciary are dependent on their political goodwill. Rule of law does not apply to the politicians in power and their circle of friends. Lobbyists provide finances to the political elites, which translates in assistance for business projects. The contribution introduces the concept of delegative democracy and continues with providing a historical background of the democratic transition in the region. The political system of the case studies will be analysed and evaluated in relation to the dominance of the political office, the weak political institutions and damaged separation of powers in the respective country. To conclude the specifics of the region’s democratic backsliding in relation to the dominance of the political leaders’ positions are summarised. Despite having lived through periods of political authoritarian regimes in the region, the tendency of powerful men taking political positions through democratically held elections and once in power ignoring the constitutions restrictions of their political position has overall shaped politics in the region. The contribution will focus on Serbia and the person of Aleksandar Vučić, who oscillates between the position of Prime Minister and President with no real difference in executing his power. References to other case studies in the WB-region are conducted, if the comparison is showing similar developments for the entire region.