RENEWING THE APPROACH TOWARDS THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE THIRD SECTOR AND GOVERNANCE IN THE WESTERN BALKANS,WITH AN INTEREST IN ALBANIA'S CASE

Abstract

The development of the third sector in the countries of the Western Balkans, along with other sensitive issues, is at the centre of the analysis of the European integration processes of the region. Underlining the difficulties and limited contribution that civil society organizations, human rights associations, foundations, groups of expertise and social enterprises have for the advancing of democracy and the protection of citizens' rights, international organizations, and European institutions view state cooperation with third sector as an issue, which needs to be addressed. The assessment of third sector organizations guiding principles of cooperation with the government institutions is carried out through this study in a regional context of the Western Balkans literature, third sector researches and paper reports. The research design and the construction of the variables guided the data collection process in a mixed methodology, where the main inquiring instruments are the questionnaires, focus groups and documents review. The regional context of the study included a specific analysis of Albania as a distinct case in which the functioning of third sector organizations is reported to be characterized by fragmentation, incoherence and struggle to exist. The conclusions of the research call for a renewed approach to the third sector with a particular emphasis on cooperation, support and sustain from government institutions, essential for renewing of interventions, projects and strategies that promote the rule of law, human rights and democracy