This book offers a well-investigated and accessible picture of the current situation around the politics of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) rights and activism in Central Europe and the Western Balkans in the context of the enlargement of the European Union (EU). It provides not only thoughtful reflections on the topic but also a wealth of new empirical findings - arising from legal and policy analysis, large-scale sociological investigations and country case studies. Theoretical concepts come from institutional analysis, the study of social movements, law, and Europeanization literature. The authors discuss emerging Europe-wide activism for LGBT rights and analyze issues such as the tendency of nationalist movements to turn 'sexual others' into 'national others,' the actions and rhetoric of church actors as powerful counter-mobilizers against LGBT rights, and the role of the domestic state on the receiving end of EU pressure in the field of fundamental rights.

Autorentext

Koen Slootmaeckers is a researcher at the School of Politics and International Relations Queen Mary University of London, UK, and Free Research Associate at LINES (Leuven International and European Studies) at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium.

Heleen Touquet is Part-Time Professor of International Relations at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium. Her work on social movements and mobilisation in the Western Balkans has been published in, among others, Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, Europa-Asia Studies, and Nationalities Papers.

Peter Vermeersch is Professor of Politics at the University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium, where he is Research Co-ordinator at LINES (Leuven International and European Studies). Previously, he published among others The Romani Movement: Minority Politics and Ethnic Mobilization in Contemporary Central Europe (2006).

Inhalt

List of Figures-. Preface and Acknowledgements-. Notes on Contributors-. List of Abbreviations-. Introduction: EU Enlargement and LGBT Rights: Beyond Symbolism?; Koen Slootmaeckers, Heleen Touquet and Peter Vermeersch-. PART I The Broader Picture: LGBT issues in the EU-. Chapter 1. The Co-evolution of EU's Eastern Enlargement and LGBT politics: An Ever Gayer Union?; Koen Slootmaeckers and Heleen Touquet-. Chapter 2. European Integration and LGBTI Activism Partners in Realizing Change?; Mattias Kristoffersson, Björn van Roozendaal and Lilit Poghosyan-. Chapter 3. Federalizing Legal Opportunities for LGBT Movements in the Growing EU; Uladzislau Belavusau and Dimitry Kochenov-. PART II Zooming in: Central and Eastern Europe-. Chapter 4. Nationalism and Homophobia in Central and Eastern Europe; Richard C.M. Mole-. Chapter 5. From Pride to Politics: Niche-Party Politics and LGBT Rights in Poland; Conor O'Dwyer and Peter Vermeersch-. Chapter 6. Same-sex Partnership Debates in Slovenia: Between Declarative Support and Lack of Political Will; Roman Kuhar and Metka Mencin eplak-. PART III Close-ups of the Western Balkans-. Chapter 7. The Struggle for Visibility and Equality: Bosnian LGBT Rights Developments; Safia Swimelar-. Chapter 8. Whose Pride? LGBT 'Community' and the Organisation of Pride Parades in Serbia; Bojan Bili-. Chapter 9. The Curious Case of Macedonia: A Personal Insight of a Former Head of the EU Delegation in Macedonia; Erwan Fouéré-. Index.