Corruption and Democratic Transition in Eastern Europe

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

   PDF

2. Introduction: Political Scandals and Transition in Serbia

   • Marija Zurnić

   Pages 1-21

3. Yugoslavia from Kingdom to Socialist Federation: Political Order and Political Corruption

   • Marija Zurnić

   Pages 23-46

4. Milošević’s Rule and Corruption

   • Marija Zurnić

   Pages 47-73

5. Confronting Corruption in Post-Milošević Serbia: Discourse and Institutions

   • Marija Zurnić

   Pages 75-106

6. Money Laundering and Privatisation: The Money in Cyprus Scandal and the Privatisation of Jugoremedija

   • Marija Zurnić

   Pages 107-141

7. State, Interest and Political Corruption: The Bankruptcy of Sartid and the Privatisation of C Market

   • Marija Zurnić

   Pages 143-167

8. Institution-Building and Institutional Corruption: The Port of Belgrade Privatisation and Swine Flu Scandals

   • Marija Zurnić

   Pages 169-193

9. Conclusions: Political Scandals and Political Action

   • Marija Zurnić

   Pages 195-203

10. Back Matter

    Pages 205-262

    PDF

This book examines the relationship between corruption scandals and transitional processes in post-Milošević Serbia after 2000. The study challenges the view that corruption has always been understood as a conflict between private interests and the public good, as these concepts are defined in Western democracies, and explores how anti-corruption discourse has been used for political mobilisation. Through an examination of high-profile political scandals in Serbia, the author shows how the meaning of corruption changed over time. In the early 2000s, corruption focused on the legacy of Milošević’s rule and was identified through the public’s limited access to the privatisation process. By the end of the decade, conceptualisations of corruption in public debate were so diversified that each anti-corruption measure undertaken by the state was interpreted as an act of corruption by other voices in the discourse. The book will appeal to students and scholars interested in corruption studies, discourse analysis and Balkan politics. 

• political corruption
• corruption in Serbia
• democratic transition in Serbia
• Eastern European politics
• political scandals in Serbia
• Post-Milošević Serbia
• transitional processes in Serbia
• anti-corruption discourse
• Balkan politics
• corruption studies
• money laundering in Serbia
• corruption scandals in Serbia
• institutional corruption in Serbia
• privatisation and corruption
• institution building
• political mobilisation
• anti-corruptions measures
• democracy

“Zurnić’s book on corruption scandals and institutional change in Serbia after Milošević is a valuable contribution to the discussion about the entanglement of public discourse and institutional change. … her book is therefore a must-read for scholars interested in that country’s transition to democracy, and also in democratic processes more generally, and corruption discourses more specifically.” (Kathrin Jurkat, Südosteuropa Journal of Politics and Society, Vol. 68 (2), 2020)

“The book will appeal to researchers and practitioners who are interested in the matters of corruption and democratic transformation on a broader level. … the book provides a welcome addition to the academic discourse on corruption in Eastern Europe, the political and economic transformation of authoritarian states, and public perceptions of a transition that is ongoing, with no clear end in sight.” (Nina Markovic Khaze, Europe-Asia Studies, Vol. 72 (1), 2020)
“An eye-opening read on how local understandings of corruption in Serbia clash with the predominant top-down approaches brought in by the international expertise and the EU. Zurnić’s meticulous analysis of anti-corruption reforms and major political scandals points to the complex overlap between the public and private in post-Milošević Serbia.” (Alena Ledeneva, Professor of Politics and Society, University College London, UK)

“Although the corruption situation there appears to be improving, Serbia is still relatively corrupt by European standards. In this ground-breaking analysis, Dr. Zurnić analyses and explains why there is so much corruption in Serbia. Using a combination of objectivist and constructivist criteria, six political corruption scandals were carefully selected for close and nuanced discourse analysis, enriched by data from almost 30 interviews. While scandals arising from corruption allegations sometimes stimulate the transition to more democratic politics, Zurnić demonstrates persuasively that this did not happen in Serbia in the period she analyses (2000–2012). And if you think the meaning of corruption is obvious—this sophisticated analysis will disabuse you!” (Leslie Holmes, Professor Emeritus, Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia)

“This excellent new book extends not just our understanding of anti-corruption strategies in Serbia, it offers new conceptual and methodological approaches for studying anti-corruption more generally. It is meticulously researched, sophisticated in its analysis, and provides a compelling account of what factors constrain the fight against corruption in a post-authoritarian state. It will be of great value to researchers, students, but also to the general reader with an interest in the region and Serbia in particular.” (Adam Fagan, Professor of European Politics, Queen Mary University of London, UK)

• Belgrade, Serbia

  Marija Zurnić

Marija Zurnić is an independent researcher in anti-corruption studies and discourse analysis in Southeast Europe.

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