Fierce demonstrations in Tirana and clashes between police and protestors against corruption and government arbitrariness testify that political expectations for change have grown throughout the region, including Serbia, regardless of the path and promises of membership in the European Union.
This is stated in an analysis by the American center "Geopolitical Futures", which states that "Albania, a NATO member and an important Western factor in regional security, is now the scene of fierce protests and violence."
"Dissatisfied citizens, the opposition, and civil society groups have taken to the streets in recent days demanding accountability for the growing corruption scandals and the resignation of the government," the American institute points out, saying that everything indicates that the protests will continue.
"Widespread corruption is not just an Albanian problem, but exists throughout the region," Geopolitical Futures points out.
The analysis states that "protests across the Balkans are not just movements against the government, but show that a generational shift in political priorities has occurred."
"For while membership in the European Union may no longer be an immediate impetus for reform, the transformation initiated on the path to European membership continues to shape citizens' demands," the American institute notes.
"Europeanization," the analysis states, "has grown into the domestic political culture and citizens are moving not only because of geopolitical integration, but also because of what they live on every day."
"Geopolitical Futures" points out, citing a report by Transparency International, that "many Western Balkan countries are battling weak institutions, closed decision-making systems, misuse of state funds, and a general feeling in the region that there has been complete stagnation in the implementation of anti-corruption reforms."
The protests in Tirana are "an echo of general citizen dissatisfaction across the Balkans due to entrenched corruption and lack of institutional accountability," the American institute explains.
"In Serbia, the long-lasting demonstrations that began," Geopolitical Futures notes, "have not subsided since then, due to the death of a person when a canopy collapsed at the Novi Sad railway station."
The student-led demonstrations are demanding, the analysis states, "accountability, insight into everything that happened, as well as an end to corruption and political sloppiness."
In the protests, as stated, the main pressure is directed at the authorities and issues of integrity and accountability, "but the protests are largely leadershipless and have not yet led to genuine political change."
The American think tank points out that the current protests in the Western Balkans reflect both disappointment with the endlessly protracted path to EU membership, "but also a maturation in the understanding that the problems lie with the authorities, not rival ethnic groups."
"Citizens who were born and raised during the process of EU membership have become fully aware that the rule of law and accountability of government institutions are the foundation of progress and social trust... and that is how governments are judged," Geopolitical Futures analysts explain.
And they conclude that in the countries of the Western Balkans "the language of the rule of law, accountability, institutional responsibility is now established not only as a condition for EU membership, but also as values that constitute a 'normal', modern state."
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