DEMOCRATIZATION OF POLITICAL PROCESSES AND OVERCOMING POLITICAL- IDEOLOGICAL POLARIZATION June 14-17, 2016 | Durrës In cooperation with: Confidential Conference Papers Please do not circulate The Aspen Institute Germany wishes sincerely to thank the German Federal Foreign Office for its sponsorship of the Aspen Southeast Europe Program 2016 through the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. ASPEN Democratization of Political Processes and POLICY PROGRAM Overcoming Political-Ideological Polarization The mission of The Aspen Institute is to improve the quality of leadership through dialog about the values and ideals essential to meeting the challenges facing organizations and governments at all levels. Over its sixty year history, the Aspen Institute has been devoted to advancing values-based leadership – to creating a safe, neutral space in which leaders can meet in order to discuss the complex challenges facing modern societies confidentially and in depth, with respect for differing points of view, in a search for common ground. This reader includes conference papers and proceedings of Aspen Germany’s conference on “Democratization of Political Processes and Overcoming Political- Ideological Polarization” on June 14-17, 2016, Durres. The Aspen Institute’s role is limited to that of an organizer and convener. Aspen takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with the U.S. or German governments. All statements of fact and expressions of opinion contained in all Aspen publications are the sole responsibility of the author or authors. For further information about The Aspen Institute, please write Aspen Institute Deutschland e.V., Friedrichstraße 60, 10117 Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany or call at +49 30 80 48 90 0. Visit our website at www.aspeninstitute.de Copyright © 2016 by The Aspen Institute Deutschland e.V. All rights reserved. This report may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form (beyond that copying permitted by Sections 107 and 108 of the U.S. Copyright Law and excerpts by reviewers for the public press), without the express, prior, written consent of the publisher. TABLE OF CONTENTS THE ASPEN IDEA 05 AGENDA AND PARTICIPANTS 06 PARTICIPANT BIOGRAPHIES 11 SESSION I: THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTS 21 1. Davor Boban 21 The Croatian Parliament and the Transformation of the Political System SESSION II: RADICALIZATION AND POLITICAL POLARIZATION 24 2. Dorian Jano 24 Persistence of Political Polarization in the Balkans 3. Věra Stojarová 28 Political Polarization on the Rise: Czech Republic and Beyond SESSION III: IDEOLOGICAL AND PROGRAMMATIC DIFFERENCES BETWEEN POLITICAL PARTIES 33 4. Roland Gjoni 33 Ethnic Politics in the Western Balkans: The State of Play and Ways Forward 5. Tim Haughton 40 Castles Made of Sand and Stone: Political Parties and Democracy (tbc) SESSION IV: THE ROLE OF MEDIA 41 6. Remzi Lani 41 Balkan Media: A Complex and Unfinished Story SESSION V: WOMEN’S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION 45 7. Abdulla Azizi 45 Analysis of Women’s Political Participation Practice in Macedonia and How to Move Forward APPENDICES 51 Acronyms Used 51 THE ASPEN IDEA THE ASPEN INSTITUTE GERMANY PROMOTES VALUES-BASED LEADERSHIP, CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOG AMONGST CONFLICTING PARTIES, AND EURO-ATLANTIC COOPERATION TO SUPPORT AND ENHANCE A STRONG OPEN SOCIETY. The Aspen Idea Aspen Germany The Aspen Idea goes back to 1945 when Chicago busi- As the first Institute abroad, Aspen Germany was nessman and philanthropist Walter Paepke (1896-1960), founded in 1974 in the midst of the Cold War. Its son of German immigrants from Mecklenburg, arrived founding members included former Chancellor Willy in Aspen, a then sleepy town in the mountains of Colo- Brandt, former High Commissioner for Germany John rado. Under the impression of the human and moral J. McCloy, Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, the Governing catastrophe of World War II, Paepcke dreamed of “a Mayor of Berlin Klaus Schütz, historian Lord Alan place where the human spirit can flourish.” Bullock, the future President of West Germany Richard von Weizsäcker, sociologist and politician Ralf Paepcke was a trustee of the University of Chicago and Dahrendorf, and publicist Marion Countess Dönhoff close friends with its president Robert Hutchins as well among others. Together they envisioned creating a as with philosopher Mortimer Adler. Together they symbol of transatlantic community. shared one vision: To create a platform for dialog for leaders, thinkers, and artists from around the globe to Under the leadership of Shepard Stone (1974-1988), step away from their daily routines and reflect on what Aspen Germany’s first director, the institute made a makes good leaders and a good society. significant contribution to achieving mutual understand- ing between the East and West blocs during the Cold Their dream came true in 1949 when Paepcke made War. Aspen was one of the few places where high- Aspen the site for the celebration of the 200th birthday ranking East bloc and West bloc representatives were of German poet and philosopher Johann Wolfgang von willing to meet in a neutral, respectful and confidential Goethe to commemorate the historic and abiding philo- atmosphere in order to look for solutions to the East- sophical ties that America and the rest of the world had West conflict together. with Germany, despite the aberration of Hitler and World War II. The 20-day gathering attracted such Stone’s successors extended this tradition and also fo- prominent intellectuals and artists as Albert Schweitzer, cused on issues facing Southeast Europe and the Middle Jose Ortega y Gasset, Thornton Wilder, and Arthur East. Since the early 1990s, Aspen Germany has been Rubinstein, along with members of the international focusing on the developments in Southeast Europe press and more than 2,000 other attendees. That year, when the Institute joined forces with the Carnegie En- Paepcke created what is now the Aspen Institute. dowment for International Peace and initiated the Inter- national Commission on the Balkans, which was fol- Today, the vision and reach of the Institute extend far lowed by a young leaders study group on the future of beyond its original roots. In policy programs, seminars, the region. Today, Aspen Germany offers different fora public events, and global leadership initiatives, the form for regional dialog, both on the Foreign Ministers’ level and force of the Institute have grown to confront con- as well as on the Subcabinet and civil society level. temporary challenges and matters of collective concern. The Institute is based in Washington DC and has cam- Since its inception, Aspen Germany has been enabling puses in Aspen, Colorado, and on the Wye River on constructive dialog amongst conflicting parties and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. It also maintains offices in promoting Euro-Atlantic cooperation to support and New York City and has an international network of enhance a strong open society. partners in Germany, France, Italy, the Czech Republic, Romania, Spain, Japan, India, and Mexico. Democratization of political processes and overcoming ASPEN INSTITUTE political-ideological polarization GERMANY Agenda Tuesday, June 14, 2016 Arrival of participants during the day Accommodation: Palace Hotel, Rruga “Pavarësia”, plazhi Apollonia, Durrës, Albania 20:00 Reception and Welcome Dinner Dinner speech by Ditmir Bushati, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Albania Venue: Palace Hotel, Terrace Wednesday, June 15, 2016 09:00 – 09:30 Welcoming remarks and introduction by Rüdiger Lentz, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Germany Odeta Barbullushi, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Albania 09:30 – 11:00 Session I: The role of parliaments Aside from their legislative function, parliaments have an oversight and a representative role in the political systems of democracies. However, in the Western Balkans, the con- solidation of parliamentarianism seems to be facing numerous challenges. What is the role of parliaments in the region? Can parliaments exercise their three core functions adequately? How can the representative and oversight roles of parliaments be strength- ened? What is the role of opposition? How important is the contribution of opposition parties and how can it be supported? Which role does the organizational structure of political parties play? What are the effects of the EU enlargement process on parlia- ments in the region and how can they be attenuated? How important is parliaments’ participation in public debate and how do parliaments live up to their role? Moderator: Rüdiger Lentz Introduction: Davor Boban, The Croatian Parliament and the Transformation of the Political System Comment: Christian Petry, Member of the German Bundestag 11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break Democratization of political processes and overcoming political-ideological polarization ASPEN INSTITUTE Agenda GERMANY 11:30 – 13:00 Session II: Radicalization and political polarization Increasing radicalization of political parties and a growing polarization of political dialog are phenomena that have occurred throughout Europe, in particular more re- cently. Especially in the Western Balkans, political polarization has had severe con- sequences and has led to political crises in most of the countries. Why is political polarization on the rise? How can it be met? How can political crises be avoided? How can opposition better find its role of a democratic opposition? How can mode- rate, democratic opposition be strengthened? Is there a lack of a culture of compro- mise? Can