Násilie v ase volieb v priestore krajín západného Balkánu: mapovanie konceptuálneho rámca

Violence During Elections in the Area of Western Balkan Countries: Mapping the Conceptual Framework.The goal of the study is to present data about the occurrence of violence during elections in Western Balkan countries, and to formulate common patterns that describe the interactions within the background of electoral competition. The main focus is on the functional presence of violence and its link to the institute of elections. The paper suggests that elections as an institution affect the social interactions which can be initiated, reinforced or stifled. On the basis of micro-case studies of seven Balkan countries (Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Albania), the existing theory is evaluated and a broader approach for the study of violence in the electoral arena is formulated. Such a comparative perspective prepares ground for conclusions regarding the patterns of violence that are present in the region of Western Balkan, and point to the underdeveloped nature of the concept of violence during elections.