Public policy making in the Western Balkans

1. Public policy making in the Western Balkans VesnaBojicic- Dzelilovic Sarajevo, 6 June 2014

2. The framework of the study • Research overview • Key findings

3. Policy network analysis “seeks to explain the formation of state-interest organization networks, their persistence and change over time, and the consequences of network structures for public policy making outcomes” (Thomas 2010 cif. Knoke, 2007:4).

4. Context • proliferation of actors • weak state and civil society • delayed transition & the politics of reforms

5. Research overview Core questions: • What is the political, economic and social context and drivers of a reform? • How was the policy designed/developed and implemented? • Who were the stakeholders and policy actors involved in designing, implementing and evaluating the impact of the policy? • What kinds of collaboration, collusion, or competition occurred? • Was there an evidence of policy networks, and if so, who were the actors, leaders, their spheres of influence and special interests? • How did the networks and coalitions influence the scope, timing and the pace of reforms?

6. Country overview

7. Focus • The role of policy makers through the policy process • The nature of coalitions and collaboration between policy makers within government and the role of factors outside of government • Challenges facing policy makers in securing support within government and from extra- governmental groups or organizations

8. Findings • The policy process in a democratic, market-driven sense is nascent; no policy networks • Evidence of forms of collaboration on specific policy issues within government (i.e., inter-ministerial and/or inter-organizational) and between the executive and parliaments- the extent of this collaboration defined by government coalitions and often limited within party lines. • Informal, unstructured and opportunistic policy coalitions • The nature of coalitions and collaboration between policy makers within government characterized by the domination of small groups of policy elites • Private sector and civil society play no prominent role but trade union in some areas do • The policy agendas are often reactive to internal and external stimuli and largely driven by external agendas and requirements. • Professionalization of public service and the shift to regulatory governance in the context of EU alignment is having some impact on the policy making.

9. Conclusion • Weak governance systems are serious problem in the Western Balkans • Strengthening the policy making process and building capacity in government, academia, the private sector and civil society to produce technically sound analytical inputs for the policy process is key in order to improve the quality, ownership, credibility, and sustainability of the policies that are critical for economic growth and social development.