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As with all Western Balkans states, Kosovo is an aspiring member-state of the European Union, knocking at the door and trying to align its internal as well as external affairs with those of the European Union, which is easier said than done. This paper will focus on the internal and external levels of preparedness of Kosovo in its aims to integrate into the European Union as a full-fledged member. The paper will cover the most important obstacles in front of Kosovo’s path, as well as its shortcomings which must be addressed in its path to EU integration. The paper will aim to have an encompassing analysis of the preparedness level of Kosovo by looking over its path to independence, the initial steps and agreements made with the European Union, followed by an analysis of the most immediate issues with Serbia which dramatically hinder Kosovo’s path, while also analyzing and understanding the internal preparedness in terms of judicial, bureaucratic, administrative etc. reforms which are and should be undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the civil sector in society is of utmost importance for the democratic values of a country and the promotion of civic awareness. Cooperation between civil society organizations and businesses is a model that has been proven to work. In the Republic of North Macedonia, with the adoption of the Law on Donations and Sponsorships in Public Activities in 2006 and the Law on Associations and Foundations in 2010, the legal framework that regulates this area was harmonized with European standards, and the foundations were laid for the development of measures that will help the sustainability of the civil sector. Appreciating the contribution of the civil sector and its significant role in the development of society, encouraging pluralism, tolerance, and the development of democracy, 3 strategies for the cooperation of the government with the civil sector with an action plan were adopted in the Republic of North Macedonia in the past 15 years. These strategies were largely implemented through the adoption of several amendments to the aforementioned laws. In this paper, a detailed analysis is made of the Law on Donations and Sponsorships in Public Activities and the Law on Associations and Foundations in 2010 with their amendments. Research has also been done on the practical application of the legal norms that will indicate the advantages and weaknesses of these provisions. The primary goal of this paper is to determine the possibilities and ways to strengthen the cooperation between civil organizations and foundations and the business sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

North Macedonia has been at the doorstep of the European Union since the initial 2003 Western Balkans summit in Thessaloniki, Greece. Although this milestone has reached the 20-year mark, the road to full membership into the European Union seems all the more difficult and challenging for the small mountainous Western Balkans state. For North Macedonia, the obstacles which provide context to the seemingly endless road to EU integration and possible membership, range from domestic shortcomings to historical, cultural and political predicaments with neighbors. In this paper, we will aim to analyze the case of North Macedonia, including the internal and external obstacles in its path to EU integration and propose possible resolutions and outcomes for the case and the seemingly never-ending journey towards membership status in the European Union. In this context, we will utilize EU commission reports and their key findings with regards to North Macedonia as well as recent social, political and economic developments in the country. In order to depict the case thoroughly, the first part of the paper will cover the historical development and background in relation to the EU integration, the second and third parts will cover the most recent developments and main obstacles in North Macedonia's path in both an internal and external context, and in the conclusion, we will provide a summary of the immediate concerns of North Macedonia in its path to EU integration and the possible trajectories for resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The right of people to move, and even to change their place of residence, is one of the basic human rights. If people have freedom of movement within national borders, the question arises whether the same right can be disputed when they move from one state to another. This question is especially relevant in the modern global society, in which globalization and rapid transportation have opened the doors to higher possibilities for movement. This article deals with the issue of the transit of refugees and migrants from the conflict zones of Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan via the Balkans route. In this article, we will present data about the manner in which the Balkan countries dealt with the wave of migrants, as well as the role of EU as a supranational organization. The management of the movement of refugees and migrants will be critically observed and recommendations will be given from the lessons that should be learned from the way the Balkan migration route was managed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the relationship between civil-military relations plays a crucial role in the discipline of political science but most importantly it vibrates issue that tackles states and societies in their format and dynamism. In this paper I will try to explain the basic understanding of the civil-military relations with a specific reference to the historical development and possibilities of interaction between the both trajectories of military power as a key player in the case of security and the civil political leadership as a key player that brings development and policies for the state. Afterward, I'll try to explain the political development of Turkey as a country that faced a huge number of Coup D'états in the last two centuries and by doing so, we will enter into a discussion and focusing mostly on the last attempt in 2016. While rethinking the civil-military relations we will try to reveal (f) actors on the Turkish political internal dynamism that factorized once again the military power and initiated action to curb civil society polity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a profound importance with regard to Turkey's relationship and the Western Balkan states and their societies. This paper first analyses the Western Balkans from an historical developmental point of view and see its relationship ground towards the modern Turkish state having in mind their historical, cultural, religious, political, military and economical ties. Secondly it will be analysed the Turkish state policies towards the Western Balkans region and their states and societies. In the third part of the paper it will be focusing towards the Turkish coup d'états history and the civil-military issues that rise in the Turkish political history from the very beginning of its state formation and last until today. In the fourth part I will be structuring my paper while analysing the coup d'état attempt on the 15th of July and the Gulen movement as one the most important factor for the coup launch. In the last part actually the fifth I will be focusing on the coup d'état attempt of the 15th of July and its reflection in the Western Balkans as a political and universal event that dismantled the citizen sovereignty and legitimacy in general. Moreover, Turkish political relations with the Western Balkan states will be observed and future perspectives will be discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyprus as an international disputed island in itself encompasses a great historical and political developments. Specific political periods are very important and while analyzing them, the researcher identifies in a specific way the problems and issues that are even today unsolved. In this paper I will try to elaborate the historical, political and institutional conditions of Cyprus during the cold war period and I will try to reveal the road towards its independency. The Cold war period was a very important political and historical time frame for the world in general. But it's much needed to stress this period with regard to the Cyprus case. Many (f) actors played interesting and difficult political roles having in mind countries like Great Britain as an administrative playmaker in Cyprus, afterwards the states like Turkey, Greece and USA. The road towards independence will be analyzed in a very systematic and approachable way so that the reader might understand the Cyprus context in a more simplified and understandable manner. The preparations amongst both ethnical sides in Cyprus are important and their divisions will be seen in the paper. Both sides had their interests within the context of Cyprus Island and both of them saw the island as theirs in real perspective. This, in a certain sense helped the independency of Cyprus from the British administration but on the other hand opened the issue that on long term perspective can't be solved. I think that if we try to understand what might be today's resolution of this case; the answer might lay indeed in its history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]