Researchers from the Western Balkans develop scenarios for a policy dialogue between governments and civil society
Strategic foresight is interdisciplinary in its nature and aims to systematically and scientifically depict possible future scenarios. The TRAIN alumni meeting, whose focus was “State-Civil Society Relations in the Western Balkans in 2025,” offered the participating researchers a chance to gain first insights into the method and to apply it straightaway.
Over the past few years the European Union has consistently emphasized the importance of civil society for a successful reform agenda in the region. Despite some progress, the policy dialogue between governments and think tanks is still weak; the inclusion of civil society expertise in the policymaking process occurs only to a minor extent.
In what way might this policy dialogue develop over the next ten years? What are the driving forces – and which scenarios are likely? On the basis of these questions the participating researchers from all countries of the Western Balkans trained their methodological competences.
The participants also met Berlin-based policy analysts: following an introductory talk on the role of civil society in Croatia’s EU accession process, the meeting offered much space for an exchange of views on the EU integration of the Western Balkans countries, as well as some intensive discussion of the chances and challenges for civil society organizations in the integration process.
Funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (Stability Pact for South East Europe), TRAIN accompanies policy researchers from the Western Balkans as they develop research on topics relevant to the EU integration of their countries. Since 2010 more than 60 researchers from over 25 think tanks from all countries of the Western Balkans have participated in the program. One focus of TRAIN is to create and to strengthen an alumni network that includes independent think tanks of the region and to support their cooperation among each other.
