Paper Titles & Abstracts

In contrast to generally accepted positive link between the European integration and conflict resolution, recent researches on the subject revealed that this correlation is not always direct but may also be negative. One of the most important dimensions of the issue is the ability of local political actors within conflict parties to utilize the integration framework to legitimize peace discourses. Yet, same political actors who possess the ability to trigger mass movements can also use the framework of European integration to construct stronger securitization discourse and impede positive development. What is the underlining reason of the local actors' preferences? How the dynamics of European integration alters the power balance between local political actors? What implications does this have for the conflict resolution process? This paper aims to answer these questions by analysing how local political actors use the integration framework to re-formulate their policies in the case of Kosovo conflict looking both Pristina and Belgrade.The paper argues that while the preference of political actors to link their agenda with the integration process is determined by their political orientation and the power they possess, their ability to facilitate positive change also depends to the performance of the EU as an actor.