Shrinking spaces in Western Balkans is published by the HBF Office in Sarajevo and has intent to contribute to shedding light on the complex mechanisms of shrinking spaces, provide analyses, and develop adequate countermeasures. The goal of the Foundation is to expand the field of operation for civil society actors since, without civic engagement and participation, democratization cannot succeed.
“The phenomenon of the captured state lies behind these tendencies: corrupt networks use their power in all areas of the state, not to do politics in the proper meaning of the word, or to devise solutions for social and economic problems, but to be able to utilize the state as an eco-system for enriching themselves. The issue at hand is about power, about access to state resources – Big Business at the expense of the common good. In order to keep Big Business up and running, civic actors’ field of operation is rigorously limited or – in the worst cases – entirely closed. Democratic achievements are thus perforated and transformation processes frozen.” – stated Marion Kraske in introduction.
Publication contains texts written by acttive citizens from Croatia, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Macedonia. Can be downloaded here.
