Hilary 2021 Term Calendar
Hilary 2021 Term Calendar
The recent focus of the EU on the application of the rule of law in member states, including other political reforms and conditionality in the Western Balkan accession states, shows that the issue of democratic politics has reached a critical juncture in many parts of Europe. But how big is the problem of democratic backsliding and how credible is the fight against illiberalism? Our SEESOX seminar series is looking at the quality of democracy in South East Europe, through thematic and comparative country perspectives. It focuses on South East European member states, accession and candidate countries, and includes panels on ethno-populism and illiberalism, elections and party politics, the dominant power of the executive, freedom of media, promotion of the rule of law, legacies of the recent past, transitional justice and social protests.
All events are online Zoom webinars.
Please click on the link to register.
Week 1
Wednesday 20 January, 17:00
Democracy in South East Europe: Backsliding or new normal?
Damir Kapidzic (University of Sarajevo); Milada Vachudova (North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Discussant: Dimitar Bechev (Institute for Human Sciences, Vienna)
Chair: Othon Anastasakis (St Antony’s College, Oxford)
Week 2
Wednesday 27 January, 17:00
Can elections bring (real) change? Lessons learned and prospects for the Western Balkans
Florian Bieber (Graz University); Donika Emini (Civikos Platform); Borisa Falatar (Nasa Stranka); Vujo Ilic (CRTA, Serbia); Jovana Marovic (Politikon Network, Montenegro)
Chair: Tena Prelec (Department of Politics and IR, Oxford)
Week 3
Wednesday 3 February, 17:00
Strengthening the Rule of Law in South East Europe and the EU: Instruments, challenges and lessons learned
Carlos Closa (European University Institute); Eli Gateva (Department of Politics and IR, Oxford); Marko Kmezic (University of Graz)
Chair: Kalypso Nicolaidis (European University Institute; St Antony’s College, Oxford)
In cooperation with the School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute
Week 4
Wednesday 10 February, 17:00
Book discussion
The struggle for redress: Victim Capital in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jessie Hronesova (Oxford Department of International Development & author of the book)
Discussants: John Alderdice (Harris Manchester College, Oxford); Jasna Dragovic-Soso (Goldsmith University)
Chair: John Gledhil (Oxford Department of International Development)
Week 5
Wednesday 17 February, 17:00
Media in Greece: Free or dependent?
Roman Gerodimos (Bournemouth University); Lamprini Rori (University of Exeter)
Discussant: Stathis Kalivas (All Souls College, Oxford; DPIR, Oxford)
Chair: Tim Vlandas (St Antony’s College, Oxford)
Week 6
Wednesday 24 February, 17:00
Book discussion
Legacies of Yugoslavia on the region’s post-communist transition
Ivor Sokolic (LSE); Ljubica Spaskovska (University of Exeter); Milica Uvalic (University of Perugia)
Chairs: Othon Anastasakis (St Antony’s College, Oxford); Adis Merdzanovic (Zurich University of Applied Sciences)
On the occasion of the publication of the book The Legacy of Yugoslavia: Politics Economics and Society in the Modern Balkans (Bloomsbury 2020)
Week 7
Wednesday 3 March, 17:00
Turkey’s new constitution: The President’s monopoly over state power and the shrinking role of the parliament and judiciary
Bertil Erat Oder (Koc University); Ersin Mahmut Kalaycıoğlu (Sabanci University); Murat Sevinc (Bogazici University)
Chair: Mehmet Karli (St Antony’s College, Oxford)
Week 8
Wednesday 10 March, 17:00
Protests in the Balkans: Do they have an impact?
Danijela Dolenec (University of Zagreb); Chiara Milan (Scuola Normale Superiore (Italy)); Julia Rone (Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH), University of Cambridge)
Chairs: Othon Anastasakis (SEESOX); Jessie Hronesova (Oxford Department of International Development)