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Marlene Spoerri
Biographical Information
Marlene Spoerri is a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam and a Visiting Scholar at the Harriman Institute of Columbia University. Her doctoral research explores the effects of foreign aid on democratization and political parties in post-communist and post-conflict states. Other research interests include the interconnections between transitional justice and democracy in the aftermath of violence, democracy promotion, and youth movements. Prior to pursuing her doctorate, Marlene resided in the Western Balkans where she worked for grant-giving foundations and domestic nonprofits. Her articles have appeared in international peer-reviewed journals like Democratization, Europe-Asia Studies, and the Journal of International Relations and Development.
Current Research
Marlene is part of an NWO-funded research project examining the influence of external intervention on political party building and democratization processes in post-conflict and post-authoritarian states, including Bosnia and Kosovo, Georgia, Ukraine, and Serbia. The project is being overseen by Prof. Peter Burnell of the University of Warwick and Dr. André Gerrits of the University of Amsterdam.
Marlene’s research, entitled Engineering Revolution? Bringing Down Dictators and Building Democratic Parties in the former Yugoslavia, covers post-socialist Serbia in the run up to and aftermath of the seminal Presidential elections of September 2000. Her analysis centers on foreign assistance to Serbian political parties over the two decades following the onset of multiparty politics in1990.
Since Milosevic’s downfall, scholars and practitioners alike have heralded the international community for its active support of democratic forces such as the youth movement, OTPOR, and the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS). Yet how this international interference impacted upon Serbs’ domestic struggle remains unclear.
Howimportant were these international contacts? Did they play a decisive role in coordinating the Serbian opposition in the months prior to Milosevic’s ouster? Did they have a follow-up strategy after the ouster of Milosevic? How has aid worked in the aftermath of electoral revolution? Hasaid responded adequately to the demands of a newly democratic context?
In answering these questions the research shines light on the complex linkages between domestic and international (f)actors in democratization processes.
Selected List of Publications
Spoerri, M. (2011) 'Justice Imposed: How Policies of Conditionality Effect Transitional Justice in the former Yugoslavia' Europe-Asia Studies, 63 (10).
Spoerri, M. and Joksic, M. (2011) 'From Resistance to Revolution and Back Again: What Egyptian Youth can Learn from Otpor after the Activists Leave Tahrir Square', Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs.
Spoerri, M. (2010) 'Crossing the Line: Partisan Party Assistance in Post-Milosevic Serbia', Democratization, 17 (6): 1108-1131.
Spoerri, M. (2009)‘Serbia’ in: D.J. Sagar, Political Parties of the World. London: John Harper.
Spoerri, M. (2009), Review of Victor Peskin’s ‘International Justice in Rwanda andtheBalkans: Virtual Trials and the Struggle for State Cooperation’ for Europe-Asia Studies, 61(2): 376-377.
Spoerri, M. and A. Freyberg-Inan (2008), “From Prosecution to Persecution: Perceptions of the ICTY in Serbian Domestic Politics”, Journal for International Relations and Development, 11(4): 350-384.
Spoerri, M. (2008), ‘Serbia’s Parties on the Mend? The State of IntrapartyDemocracy Before and After Regime Change’, Balkanologie, 11(1).
Spoerri, M. (2008) ‘Uniting the opposition in the run-up to electoral revolution: lessons from Serbia 1990-2000’, Totalitarismus und Demokratie, 5(1): 67-85.
Spoerri, M. (2008) ‘US Policy Towards Ultranationalist Political Parties in Serbia: The Policy of Non-Engagement Examined’, CEU Political Science Journal, 3(1): 25-48.
http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/resources/articles_papers_reports/0087.html
Research Interests
Democratization, transitional justice, Southeastern Europe, the European Union, EU enlargement, EUconditionality, political party development, democracy promotion.
Languages
English, Dutch, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian.
Awards, Scholarships and Grants
Association for the Study of Nationalities
Best Doctoral Student Paper Award for the Balkans (2010)
Department of Political Science (2008/2009)
Harvard University
Travel and Accommodation Grant (2009)
SRL Research Associate
Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2008)
2005 Dutch National Thesis Prize Nominated
Socrates/Erasmus
Political Science Department, University of Amsterdam (2004)
Teaching Experience
International Relations Theory
BA Course, Department of Political Science
University of Amsterdam Democratizing Central and Eastern Europe in the Aftermath of the Cold War
BA Course (self-designed and taught)
University of Amsterdam
Teaching in Higher Education I: A Key Skills Training Course
Central European University