This book examines how European issues have played out in Serbian and Croatian party politics
since 2000 in the context of significant challenges brought by European integration of the
Western Balkans. It provides a comprehensive analysis of how political parties in these
countries have determined and shifted their positions on the EU by exploring the effect and
interaction of party ideology and strategy position within the party system relations with
the general public and voters as well as transnational party linkages. The author argues that
the particular nature of European issues closely related to crucial identity and statehood
dilemmas in these post-conflict societies largely determined party stances on the EU feeding
significant Eurosceptic sentiments. At the same time a number of core parties underwent a
rapid pro-EU conversion pragmatically responding to internal and external incentives in the
context of dynamic electoral competition and strong EU presence and aimed at maximising their
chances of securing executive office. The book will be of interest to advanced students and
scholars in the fields of comparative politics Western Balkan politics and EU studies.
