Ailing the Process: Political Parties and Consolidation of Democracy in Kosovo Vom Fachbereich Gesellschaftswissenschaften der Universität Duisburg-Essen zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades Dr. phil. genehmigte Dissertation von Smajljaj, Avdi aus Prishtinë (Llazarevë) 1. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Schmitt-Beck, Rüdiger 2. Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Poguntke, Thomas Tag der Disputation: 07.02.2011 Ailing the process: political parties and consolidation of democracy in Kosovo Table of Contents Introduction .................................................................................................................. 7 1. Theoretical Framework ...........................................................................................12 1.1. Theories of democracy ...................................................................................... 12 1.2. Theories of democratisation ............................................................................... 22 1.2.1. Socio-cultural theoretical approach ............................................................. 25 1.2.2. System theoretical approach ....................................................................... 27 1.2.3. Structural theoretical approach .................................................................... 28 1.2.4. The actor oriented theoretical approach (Micro level) .................................. 29 1.3. Defining consolidation of democracy .................................................................. 31 1.4. Theoretical approaches in studying Political Parties........................................... 37 1.4.1. Definition of political party ........................................................................... 41 1.4.2. Functionalist theory of political parties ......................................................... 44 1.5. Theorising correlation between political parties and democracy consolidation ... 55 2. Political System of Kosovo .....................................................................................72 2.1. Historical background up to 1998-99 War .......................................................... 72 2.2. Political development after the war and constitutional structure ......................... 75 2.3. Kosovo electoral system .................................................................................... 81 2.4. Kosovo context in theories of democratisation ................................................... 82 3. Research Methodology ...........................................................................................85 3.1. The case of study .............................................................................................. 85 3.2. Research model ................................................................................................. 87 3.2.1. Choosing the data ....................................................................................... 90 3.2.2. Data collection ............................................................................................ 93 3.2.3. Data working through .................................................................................. 97 3.2.4. Data analysis .............................................................................................. 98 3.3. Validity and reliability issue ................................................................................ 99 3.4. Criticism ........................................................................................................... 101 4. Historical Development of Political Parties in Kosovo ....................................... 103 4.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 103 4.2. Chronological development of parties in Kosovo party system ......................... 105 4.3. Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 127 1 Ailing the process: political parties and consolidation of democracy in Kosovo 5. All but None - the Representation Function of Parties in Kosovo ..................... 130 5.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 130 5.2. ”Freezing Hypothesis” ...................................................................................... 135 5.3. “Freezing Theory” in Kosovo socio-political context ......................................... 137 5.4. Ideological orientation of Kosovo parties .......................................................... 149 5.5. Parties floating above the society..................................................................... 160 5.6. Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 162 6. Te l’est mon bon plaisir - The Integration Function of Parties in Kosovo ......... 165 6.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 165 6.2. Anchoring citizens by ideas and goals (symbols) ............................................. 174 6.2.1. Individual-party linkages ............................................................................ 181 6.2.2. Integration, modernization, and provincial-leader based parties ................ 188 6.2.3. Movement of party elites from one party to another ................................... 190 6.2.4. Electoral volatility ...................................................................................... 195 6.3. Orienting citizens toward policy options ........................................................... 197 6.3.1. Relation of parties to their social structure ................................................. 197 6.4. Making citizens feel part of the process of collective choice ............................. 199 6.4.1. Voter turnout ............................................................................................. 200 6.5. Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 202 7.0. Discrediting Democracy - The Legitimation Function of Parties in Kosovo .. 204 7.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 204 7.2. The dilemma of block transition and the legitimacy structure of Kosovo democracy .............................................................................................................. 208 7.3. Political parties as legitimation actors .............................................................. 210 7.4. Neither members nor voters, rather clients - inner party democracy ................ 211 7.4.1. Inclusiveness ............................................................................................ 214 7.4.2. Centralisation ............................................................................................ 223 7.4.3. Institutionalisation...................................................................................... 229 7.5. Policy making................................................................................................... 233 7.6. Party Competition ............................................................................................ 237 7.7. Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 240 8. Politics without Policies - The Innovation Function of Parties in Kosovo ........ 242 8.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 242 2 Ailing the process: political parties and consolidation of democracy in Kosovo 8.2. Emptiness, vagueness, and the populist approach of parties vs. their innovation ............................................................................................................................... 244 8.3. Policy sectors and innovation function of parties .............................................. 251 8.4. Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 265 9. Exploiting the State - The Governing Function of Parties in Kosovo ................ 267 9.1. Introduction ...................................................................................................... 267 9.2. Power as a “Cake” - Governing to exploit the state .......................................... 274 9.2.1. Party finances ........................................................................................... 275 9.3. First Politicisation, then State Capture ............................................................. 279 9.3.1. Public administration and public companies .............................................. 282 9.3.2. Public procurement and government contracts ......................................... 284 9.3.3. Privatisation .............................................................................................. 286 9.3.4. Budget allocation....................................................................................... 287 9.3.5. Rule of law ................................................................................................ 288 9.4. Establishing, maintaining and expanding clientele, patronage, corruption, clans, nepotism ................................................................................................................. 288 9.4.1. Party Patronage .......................................................................................