Zenun Halili - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Zenun Halili

Traektoriâ nauki, Nov 30, 2019

This paper aims at discussing the matter of the national minorities in Kosovo and the Republic of... more This paper aims at discussing the matter of the national minorities in Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia. Role, position and the rights of the national minorities are the key focus of this study. While the Balkan countries and some European countries have had issues with recognizing and supporting the different ethnic communities living within their borders, Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia have, since their independence, recognized the existence of different communities as a given fact. Since gaining independence, they have constitutionally guaranteed all citizens freedom of association for the 'accomplishment and protection of their political, economic, social, cultural and other rights and beliefs. Being a geographical part of the Western Balkans, these two countries have been delayed in the European integration process even though their peoples and governments aspire to become part of the European Union. I think that national minorities have an important role in this process because, in the past, these two states have been characterized by a lack of respecting the rights of national minorities. For this reason, both countries have faced a lack of internal stability and conflict with each other as a result of the lack of respect for the rights of respective national minorities.

Borsa Istanbul Review, Sep 1, 2020

Abstract This paper examines whether the ease of doing business (EDB) frontier improves economic ... more Abstract This paper examines whether the ease of doing business (EDB) frontier improves economic growth (GR) by considering a sample of 47 European and Central Asian countries, clustered into lower-middle, upper-middle and high-income economies. The results show these economies have never reached the EDB frontier. The high-income economies prove to be more advanced in their EDB frontier, especially in terms of legal reforms and satisfying infrastructure needs, access to finance and the quality of policy-making institutions. Certain EDB indicators are revealed as having a positive impact on growth. Finally, we show that if a country fails to reach at least 72 percent of the EDB index, it is no longer providing support for economic growth.

Path of Science

This paper aims at discussing the matter of the national minorities in Kosovo and the Republic of... more This paper aims at discussing the matter of the national minorities in Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia. Role, position and the rights of the national minorities are the key focus of this study. While the Balkan countries and some European countries have had issues with recognizing and supporting the different ethnic communities living within their borders, Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia have, since their independence, recognized the existence of different communities as a given fact. Since gaining independence, they have constitutionally guaranteed all citizens freedom of association for the 'accomplishment and protection of their political, economic, social, cultural and other rights and beliefs. Being a geographical part of the Western Balkans, these two countries have been delayed in the European integration process even though their peoples and governments aspire to become part of the European Union. I think that national minorities have an important role in this process because, in the past, these two states have been characterized by a lack of respecting the rights of national minorities. For this reason, both countries have faced a lack of internal stability and conflict with each other as a result of the lack of respect for the rights of respective national minorities.

Path of Science

This paper is intended to analyze the challenges and consequences of the integration of Western B... more This paper is intended to analyze the challenges and consequences of the integration of Western Balkans to the European Union. Specifically, in the first case, challenges of this integration path and in the second case the consequences as a result of eventual stagnation in this path. For more than a century, the Western Balkans region has been seeking its way of European transformation. The region remains in the agenda of European Union expansion, but even after two decades of promises, the integration of Western Balkan countries to EU is not certain. The integration journey is first of all closely connected to building the institutional capacities, adoption of laws, rules, norms and European behavior in the domestic policymaking. Therefore, the challenges are converted into obstacle or inability to the establishment of values, identity, institutional and social aspects in the Western Balkan countries, whereas the consequences are reflected as derivatives of failure to accomplishing the membership of the region to EU. Based on the research conducted on this issue, this study argues that such challenges as lack of rule of law, high levels of corruption and organized crime are derivatives of historical legacy and political elite efforts to capture the state or dominate certain state resources, as well as of the EU approach towards this region. This study is important particularly in this aspect and unequivocally presents the common and separate challenges of the Western Balkans towards integration into the European Union. Along with this realistic presentation, the consequences themselves appear which first of all are not only to the detriment of the Western Balkans.

Eastern European Journal of Regional Studies, 2018

Kosovo, a new state which is in the process of international recognition of its statehood, after ... more Kosovo, a new state which is in the process of international recognition of its statehood, after the 1999 war, and until the declaration of independence in 2008, has faced a number of challenges during its efforts to build the democratic system and order. Following the declaration of independence and a considerable number of international recognitions, Kosovo's new democratic institutions are taking their responsibilities for the country's integration into the European Union. This paper provides one overview of state building challenges and the European integration process of the Republic of Kosovo. Kosovo has its old and new history, which was decided by the great powers in London, Berlin, Paris, in Yalta and Potsdam, and later in Dayton and Rambouillet. The purpose of this paper is to examine the historical roots of the independence movement among Kosovo Albanians, until the declaration of independence on February 17, 2008, and the state-creating challenges of the Kosovo s...

Kosovo, a new state which is in the process of international recognition of its statehood, after ... more Kosovo, a new state which is in the process of international recognition of its statehood, after the 1999 war, and until the declaration of independence in 2008, has faced a number of challenges during its efforts to build the democratic system and order. Following the declaration of independence and a considerable number of international recognitions, Kosovo’s new democratic institutions are taking their responsibilities for the country's integration into the European Union. This paper provides one overview of state building challenges and the European integration process of the Republic of Kosovo. Kosovo has its old and new history, which was decided by the great powers in London, Berlin, Paris, in Yalta and Potsdam, and later in Dayton and Rambouillet. The purpose of this paper is to examine the historical roots of the independence movement among Kosovo Albanians, until the declaration of independence on February 17, 2008, and the state-creating challenges of the Kosovo state...

Politics in Central Europe (ISSN: 1801-3422), 2020

EU transformative power is put into question and constantly challenged by the political actions o... more EU transformative power is put into question and constantly challenged by the political actions of leaders in the Western Balkans. Although the political elites in this region have internalised a pro-European discourse, they are still guided and governed by authoritarian logic and practices colliding with the EU’s governing model. The paper analyses precisely this relationship between the EU and internal politics, namely, the transformative power/powerlessness of the EU towards the aspiring countries for membership in a single dimension; namely, justice. The paper reviews the reforms developed and the effects they have produced in the justice system in a calculation relation: costs and benefits. In this logic, this paper analyses costs and benefits of the internal elites of the Western Balkans, representing a classic oxymoron. On the one hand, pro-EU discourse is superficially used and, on the other, substantive actions are far from the EU’s governing model. The central argument emp...

Traektoriâ nauki, Nov 30, 2019

This paper aims at discussing the matter of the national minorities in Kosovo and the Republic of... more This paper aims at discussing the matter of the national minorities in Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia. Role, position and the rights of the national minorities are the key focus of this study. While the Balkan countries and some European countries have had issues with recognizing and supporting the different ethnic communities living within their borders, Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia have, since their independence, recognized the existence of different communities as a given fact. Since gaining independence, they have constitutionally guaranteed all citizens freedom of association for the 'accomplishment and protection of their political, economic, social, cultural and other rights and beliefs. Being a geographical part of the Western Balkans, these two countries have been delayed in the European integration process even though their peoples and governments aspire to become part of the European Union. I think that national minorities have an important role in this process because, in the past, these two states have been characterized by a lack of respecting the rights of national minorities. For this reason, both countries have faced a lack of internal stability and conflict with each other as a result of the lack of respect for the rights of respective national minorities.

Borsa Istanbul Review, Sep 1, 2020

Abstract This paper examines whether the ease of doing business (EDB) frontier improves economic ... more Abstract This paper examines whether the ease of doing business (EDB) frontier improves economic growth (GR) by considering a sample of 47 European and Central Asian countries, clustered into lower-middle, upper-middle and high-income economies. The results show these economies have never reached the EDB frontier. The high-income economies prove to be more advanced in their EDB frontier, especially in terms of legal reforms and satisfying infrastructure needs, access to finance and the quality of policy-making institutions. Certain EDB indicators are revealed as having a positive impact on growth. Finally, we show that if a country fails to reach at least 72 percent of the EDB index, it is no longer providing support for economic growth.

Path of Science

This paper aims at discussing the matter of the national minorities in Kosovo and the Republic of... more This paper aims at discussing the matter of the national minorities in Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia. Role, position and the rights of the national minorities are the key focus of this study. While the Balkan countries and some European countries have had issues with recognizing and supporting the different ethnic communities living within their borders, Kosovo and the Republic of North Macedonia have, since their independence, recognized the existence of different communities as a given fact. Since gaining independence, they have constitutionally guaranteed all citizens freedom of association for the 'accomplishment and protection of their political, economic, social, cultural and other rights and beliefs. Being a geographical part of the Western Balkans, these two countries have been delayed in the European integration process even though their peoples and governments aspire to become part of the European Union. I think that national minorities have an important role in this process because, in the past, these two states have been characterized by a lack of respecting the rights of national minorities. For this reason, both countries have faced a lack of internal stability and conflict with each other as a result of the lack of respect for the rights of respective national minorities.

Path of Science

This paper is intended to analyze the challenges and consequences of the integration of Western B... more This paper is intended to analyze the challenges and consequences of the integration of Western Balkans to the European Union. Specifically, in the first case, challenges of this integration path and in the second case the consequences as a result of eventual stagnation in this path. For more than a century, the Western Balkans region has been seeking its way of European transformation. The region remains in the agenda of European Union expansion, but even after two decades of promises, the integration of Western Balkan countries to EU is not certain. The integration journey is first of all closely connected to building the institutional capacities, adoption of laws, rules, norms and European behavior in the domestic policymaking. Therefore, the challenges are converted into obstacle or inability to the establishment of values, identity, institutional and social aspects in the Western Balkan countries, whereas the consequences are reflected as derivatives of failure to accomplishing the membership of the region to EU. Based on the research conducted on this issue, this study argues that such challenges as lack of rule of law, high levels of corruption and organized crime are derivatives of historical legacy and political elite efforts to capture the state or dominate certain state resources, as well as of the EU approach towards this region. This study is important particularly in this aspect and unequivocally presents the common and separate challenges of the Western Balkans towards integration into the European Union. Along with this realistic presentation, the consequences themselves appear which first of all are not only to the detriment of the Western Balkans.

Eastern European Journal of Regional Studies, 2018

Kosovo, a new state which is in the process of international recognition of its statehood, after ... more Kosovo, a new state which is in the process of international recognition of its statehood, after the 1999 war, and until the declaration of independence in 2008, has faced a number of challenges during its efforts to build the democratic system and order. Following the declaration of independence and a considerable number of international recognitions, Kosovo's new democratic institutions are taking their responsibilities for the country's integration into the European Union. This paper provides one overview of state building challenges and the European integration process of the Republic of Kosovo. Kosovo has its old and new history, which was decided by the great powers in London, Berlin, Paris, in Yalta and Potsdam, and later in Dayton and Rambouillet. The purpose of this paper is to examine the historical roots of the independence movement among Kosovo Albanians, until the declaration of independence on February 17, 2008, and the state-creating challenges of the Kosovo s...

Kosovo, a new state which is in the process of international recognition of its statehood, after ... more Kosovo, a new state which is in the process of international recognition of its statehood, after the 1999 war, and until the declaration of independence in 2008, has faced a number of challenges during its efforts to build the democratic system and order. Following the declaration of independence and a considerable number of international recognitions, Kosovo’s new democratic institutions are taking their responsibilities for the country's integration into the European Union. This paper provides one overview of state building challenges and the European integration process of the Republic of Kosovo. Kosovo has its old and new history, which was decided by the great powers in London, Berlin, Paris, in Yalta and Potsdam, and later in Dayton and Rambouillet. The purpose of this paper is to examine the historical roots of the independence movement among Kosovo Albanians, until the declaration of independence on February 17, 2008, and the state-creating challenges of the Kosovo state...

Politics in Central Europe (ISSN: 1801-3422), 2020

EU transformative power is put into question and constantly challenged by the political actions o... more EU transformative power is put into question and constantly challenged by the political actions of leaders in the Western Balkans. Although the political elites in this region have internalised a pro-European discourse, they are still guided and governed by authoritarian logic and practices colliding with the EU’s governing model. The paper analyses precisely this relationship between the EU and internal politics, namely, the transformative power/powerlessness of the EU towards the aspiring countries for membership in a single dimension; namely, justice. The paper reviews the reforms developed and the effects they have produced in the justice system in a calculation relation: costs and benefits. In this logic, this paper analyses costs and benefits of the internal elites of the Western Balkans, representing a classic oxymoron. On the one hand, pro-EU discourse is superficially used and, on the other, substantive actions are far from the EU’s governing model. The central argument emp...