In his recent book, Europeanisation and Informal Networks in Southeastern Europe, Max Weber Fellow Alexander Mesarovich delves into the hidden web of influence that can significantly shape a nation’s EU accession path. His research sheds light on "informal political networks"—the unseen yet impactful connections that exist alongside, and sometimes intertwine, formal political institutions. Defined by Mesarovich as "interpersonal networks that permeate and extend beyond political institutions," these informal channels serve as hidden pathways for influence and information sharing. He explains, "In politics, these networks can act as channels of influence or for information, allowing those who are better connected to achieve things which would otherwise be impossible. As the English expression goes: 'In life, it’s not what you know that matters, but who…'"
Mesarovich, a Serbian-Hungarian-American who completed his PhD in Politics at the University of Edinburgh, was motivated to explore this often-overlooked aspect of political life during his master's studies in Belgrade. His choice of Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia as case studies reflects both a personal and academic interest in understanding the post-Yugoslav countries' unique political landscapes. As Mesarovich notes, these nations share common historical roots but have diverged significantly in their paths toward European integration, providing a unique basis for comparative analysis. As for informal political influence, he points out that it is a universal phenomenon: "It is something that we all know matters, but we can struggle to both define and study it…Every culture has some form of informality, and we have all experienced it."
A central argument of Mesarovich’s work is the necessity for the EU to reconsider its accession assessment criteria to incorporate informal political dynamics. Although formal frameworks, such as meeting legal and economic standards, are fundamental to the EU's evaluations, the role of "behind-the-scenes networks and relationships" cannot be ignored. Mesarovich argues that these networks, rather than formal processes alone, form "the broader milieu within which formal institutions operate." For example, in Slovenia, these networks tended to cross party lines, mirroring a cooperative culture within parliament. Members of Parliament played tennis or skied together on weekends, and even organised a parliamentary jazz band, fostering a sense of camaraderie that supported political collaboration. By contrast, in Croatia, the informal networks tend to mirror the country’s polarised political atmosphere, aligning more strictly along party lines.
In this context, Mesarovich argues that EU representatives can only truly understand these informal systems by engaging directly with local actors. "As I show in my book," he explains, "there is more to any given political system than what you can find in the formal rules. If you want to change that system, there is no substitute for actually investing your own time in that."
This attention to informal networks is also essential in understanding the future trajectory of Southeast European countries on the EU path. While Croatia has attained EU membership, Serbia and others face ongoing challenges, including a complex web of local interests that may hinder the accession process. Mesarovich warns that "informal networks could…help to stall [the accession process] due to competing constellations of local interests." He illustrates this point with the example of Ivo Sanader, a former Croatian Prime Minister who was instrumental in guiding the country’s EU accession efforts. Sanader’s political career, however, ended in scandal after his arrest for corruption, particularly for syphoning off public funds through informal political networks to finance a slush fund. His fall from grace underscores the tension between the political machinations of informal networks and the formal, rule-based obligations that come with EU membership.
Moreover, Mesarovich believes that his findings about informal networks extend beyond Southeastern Europe and are applicable to other regions, particularly to Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia. High levels of corruption and political polarisation historically hampered these countries' EU aspirations, but the recent geopolitical landscape has presented a "real window of opportunity" for reform-minded actors. Drawing from the work of Ukrainian researcher Dr. Tetiana Kostiuchenko, who has extensively studied the role of informal networks in Ukraine, Mesarovich argues how these informal connections can influence political outcomes. Which may, he believes, hold the key to breaking both the historical accession deadlock in the Western Balkans as well as creating opportunities for real, durable, Europeanising reforms in the new candidate states.
Through Europeanisation and Informal Networks in Southeastern Europe, Mesarovich offers a fresh perspective on the role of informal political influence. His work is both an academic contribution to the field of political science and a practical call to policymakers, urging them to account for the behind-the-scenes networks that shape democratic institutions. As he reminds us, the true dynamics of political systems often lie outside the formal structures—yet they may hold the key to understanding and influencing the paths nations take toward European integration.
Alexander Mesarovich is currently a fellow at the EUI’s Max Weber Programme for Postdoctoral Studies, the largest international postdoctoral programme in the social sciences and humanities in Europe. He is affiliated with the Florence School of Transnational Governance. His research interests include populism and illiberalism, diffusion, Europeanisation, informality, the politics of Central and Southeastern Europe, and EU politics.