Transitioning towards independence and democracy after violent conflict is a difficult process, as
countries struggle to overcome the legacy of the past in order to achieve reconciliation. Thus, many
transitional justice measures emerged as a response to past violations in the aftermath of regime
changes, violent conflicts, and historical injustices. Moreover, many contemporary conflicts have
an international dimension, and countries are also challenged to resolve inter-state issues that arise,
such as inter-state antagonisms, poor bilateral and multilateral cooperation or regional instability.
International actors have gained a profound significance in shaping the trajectories of processes of
reconciliation, as they have successfully advocated/implemented many judicial and non-judicial
measures as a precondition for a lasting peace and reconciliation. However, despite the
international actors’ efforts, many countries still struggle to resolve bilateral issues and to
overcome the legacies of the past conflicts. This thesis analyzes how international actors influence
the process of reconciliation, both between and within countries, through an examination of the
transformative power of the European Union on the reconciliation processes in the Western
Balkans. The thesis demonstrates that international actors have significant leverage and power to
compel countries to adopt the necessary policies, reforms and laws, and that success of the
reconciliation initiatives largely depends on the support and engagement of the international actors.
Nevertheless, the reconciliation process demands a comprehensive approach and engagement of
all stakeholders. The main challenge for international actors in this regard is to maintain their
credibility, influence and leverage over domestic political actors.
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