Conditionality? Bah! Humbug!

One of the central arguments in Kin and Country is that the impact of the membership processes of the EU and NATO on the countries of Eastern Europe has been exaggerated.  We argue that domestic political processes trump international pressures, even if this means that countries engage self-destructive behavior.

Well, recent news out of Bosnia indicates that we are not out to lunch.  Rather than agreeing to make some reforms that would make Bosnia eligible for the early stages of membership processes for both the EU and NATO, the leaders of the Serb, Croat and Muslim factions essentially agreed to disagree.

"Bosnia is coming ever closer to replacing Albania as the metaphor for international isolation and lack of a perspective as a result of suicidal domestic politics," columnist Ivan Lovrenovic wrote.

Not much more needs to be said.