Papers by Magdalena Lembovska
DPC-Eurothink Joint Edited Volume, 2021
Inspired by Sarah Chayes' "Thieves of State," this is a book-length study that drew on broad fiel... more Inspired by Sarah Chayes' "Thieves of State," this is a book-length study that drew on broad field research in North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, media and social media monitoring and analysis, polling research, and a deep contextual knowledge to develop a model of political and social dynamics. The field research took place in 2020 and over 200 people were interviewed. Extensive media reviews were conducted for each country, and an online poll. In light of the difficulty in doing field work during COVID-19, this report provides an important overview of the situation in the two countries, from the ground up.
This study is a hybrid: Grounded in academic questions and literature, it strongly reflects the voices of ordinary people in localities that are often ignored in political discussions.
Sell Out, Tune Out, Get Out, or Freak Out? - Understanding Corruption, State Capture, Radicalization, Pacification, Resilience, and Emigration in Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia, 2021
Inspired by Sarah Chayes' "Thieves of State," this is a book-length study that drew on broad fiel... more Inspired by Sarah Chayes' "Thieves of State," this is a book-length study that drew on broad field research in North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, media and social media monitoring and analysis, polling research, and a deep contextual knowledge to develop a model of political and social dynamics. The field research took place in 2020 and over 200 people were interviewed. Extensive media reviews were conducted for each country, and an online poll. In light of the difficulty in doing field work during COVID-19, this report provides an important overview of the situation in the two countries, from the ground up.
This study is a hybrid: Grounded in academic questions and literature, it strongly reflects the voices of ordinary people in localities that are often ignored in political discussions.
Inspired by Sarah Chayes' "Thieves of State," this is a book-length study that drew on broad fiel... more Inspired by Sarah Chayes' "Thieves of State," this is a book-length study that drew on broad field research in North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, media and social media monitoring and analysis, polling research, and a deep contextual knowledge to develop a model of political and social dynamics. The field research took place in 2020 and over 200 people were interviewed. Extensive media reviews were conducted for each country, and an online poll. In light of the difficulty in doing field work during COVID-19, this report provides an important overview of the situation in the two countries, from the ground up. This study is a hybrid: Grounded in academic questions and literature, it strongly reflects the voices of ordinary people in localities that are often ignored in political discussions.
Analytica Think Tank, 2018
This paper aims to assess cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs as a confidence-bu... more This paper aims to assess cooperation in the field of justice and home affairs as a confidence-building measure, where this particular CBM is defined as “consultations between representatives of the competent ministries of interior, border police, and customs administration in order to exchange information and strengthen the fight against organized crime, corruption, terrorism, illegal migration, and drug trafficking.In that
sense, the research follows two tracks – assessing the cooperation on strategic and top management level, but also practical implications of cooperation on the field.
Dealing with irregular migration in Macedonia, 2018
The aim of this paper is to look into the practices in implementation of these rights, but also t... more The aim of this paper is to look into the practices in implementation of these rights, but also to highlight main challenges in achieving to goals of providing better transparency and increased privacy. At the same time, the paper raises the novelties in the area and discusses the interaction between both rights.
The main purpose of this research is to contribute to enhancing relations
between Athens and Skop... more The main purpose of this research is to contribute to enhancing relations
between Athens and Skopje by investigating and assessing areas of existing cooperation, providing ‘lessons learned’ from it as well as proposing ways through which civil society collaboration could be strengthened in the future. The paper supports the Confidence Building Measures’ (CBMs) process initiated by Athens and Skopje by providing knowledge and expertise in relevant areas, such as more effective cooperation in European programmes (CBM action 2) and education and culture (CBM actions 4 and 5).
This policy study illuminates the stage to which Macedonia has progressed in the implementation o... more This policy study illuminates the stage to which Macedonia has progressed in the implementation of the second generation of Security Sector Reforms. In Chapter 1 of this publication focus is put on the way internal control and oversight is practiced within the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior as well as the Intelligence Agency. Chapter 2 examines the implementation of Public Internal Financial Control, as an essential tool for exercising internal budgetary oversight. Lastly, Chapter 3 takes the Parliament as an oversight but at the same time as a legislative body and analyses its performance in four key areas applicable to the security sector: budgeting, human rights, implementation of government policies as well as its oversight of the state’s bilateral and multilateral security cooperation and integration.
The policy study re-surfaces the question of communications interception in Macedonia through loo... more The policy study re-surfaces the question of communications interception in Macedonia through looking into the most pressing issues affecting how this special investigative measure is implemented and focusing primarily on its oversight.The launch of the policy study is well-timed but the actual research activities carried out for this policy study started in the summer 2014 and the overlap with the actual situation is a coincidence.
This policy study re-surfaces the question of communications interception in Macedonia through lo... more This policy study re-surfaces the question of communications interception in Macedonia through looking into the most pressing issues affecting how this special investigative measure is implemented and focusing primarily on its oversight. It starts by providing an insight into the legal acts outlining the grounds for employing this measure and illuminating some of the inconsistencies. The study also takes a closer look into the state institutions entitled to intercept communications such as the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence, but also gives an overview into the Finance Police and the Customs, which as of 2012 received authorizations to intercept communications with the amendments of the Law on Communications Interceptions. The central component of this paper is the analysis of the
state of oversight over the use of communications interception measures.
This paper examines the trends of illegal migration in the period 2009‐2012, including data – whe... more This paper examines the trends of illegal migration in the period 2009‐2012, including data – when available ‐ from the first months of 2013. It gives an account of the legal and institutional set up aimed at dealing with illegal migration and highlights the main challenges that national authorities are facing when using already established mechanisms at their disposal. Furthermore, the paper sheds light on the main factors that cause and enable illegal migration (push and pull factors) and link it with asylum seekers and criminal offenses,
such as smuggling of migrants.
The aim of this study is to identify the best practices from the region for conducting parliament... more The aim of this study is to identify the best practices from the region for conducting parliamentary oversight of the intelligence services, especially in the process of ensuring legality and legitimacy of their financial operations.
This paper gives an account of the mechanisms available to the Macedonian parliament to conduct parliamentary oversight of the intelligence services, particularly those within the jurisdiction of the specialized parliamentary committees. It also examines cases from other states in the region and look for practices and legal solutions that they have established in order to encourage financial accountability of their intelligence services.
Illegal migration is an increasingly prominent security threat in the Western Balkans. The track ... more Illegal migration is an increasingly prominent security threat in the Western Balkans. The track record shows growing trends of illegal migrants using Macedonia as transit country on the Balkan route towards the European Union member states. Handling illegal migration is especially important in light
of the fact that this phenomenon is usually connected with organized and serious crime in the form of people smuggling and trafficking in human beings. One of the prerequisites in combating illegal migration and human smuggling is regional police cooperation. Although there have been lengthy police reform projects in the countries of the Western Balkans, they were mainly country-specific, selfcontained and lacking a regional approach. While many international initiatives have been undertaken, there seem to be three main challenges for satisfactory police cooperation in the field of
illegal migration: lack of human and administrative capacity, superficial cooperation and lack of police cooperation projects among Macedonia as non-EU and Greece as EU member states.
Therefore, opening joint contact centers, investment in joint investigation teams and intensified surveillance of the high risk borderlines are recommended for overcoming the identified challenges.
This publication and the research scope have the intent to compare the three countries Albania, K... more This publication and the research scope have the intent to compare the three countries Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia and analyze their current situation on the way towards EU membership. The three countries are neighboring each other and constitute the southern part of the Western Balkans region.
Since the EU promotes the same reforms and requirements for all potential member countries, analyzing and comparing the three case studies it is easier and more coherent. The researchers were instructed and provided with the
common methodology which was compiled by the project leader ‐ the Kosovar Center for Security Studies (KCSS). Each case study is focused on the actual contractual relations
with the EU focused on: a) rule of law, b) police reform, (c) effective border management, (d) migration flows and (e) visa and asylum regimes.
This policy paper aims at identifying the trends and the main challenges for governance of Macedo... more This policy paper aims at identifying the trends and the main challenges for governance of Macedonia’s security sector for the period 2009 ‐ 2012 in three arenas: externally (through the Parliament), internally (through the executive control) and
lastly, the control over the spending of public funds. The authors of this publication try to illuminate the stage to which Macedonia has progressed in the implementation of the second generation of Security Sector Reforms identified by Timothy Edmunds as “the consolidation of previous reforms, and the effective and efficient operation of institutions and procedures at a sustainable cost for the state and society.” The findings in this publication are a result of a three year long project “Civil Society Capacity Building to Map and Monitor Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans” carried out by a regional consortium of seven think tanks in the Western Balkans
The aim of this policy paper is to assess the cooperativeness of the relevant institutions in the... more The aim of this policy paper is to assess the cooperativeness of the relevant institutions in the energy and security sector in Macedonia following the implementation of the benchmarks defined in the Strategy for cooperation of the Government with the civil society.
The paper analyzed the Macedonian energy and security sector governance by focusing the instituti... more The paper analyzed the Macedonian energy and security sector governance by focusing the institutions’ efficiency in order to draft policy recommendations for improving the challenges by drawing lessons from positive Slovak examples. The analysis went in three tracks: human resources, financial resources and the process of policy making.
Books by Magdalena Lembovska
Inspired by Sarah Chayes' "Thieves of State," this is a book-length study that drew on broad fiel... more Inspired by Sarah Chayes' "Thieves of State," this is a book-length study that drew on broad field research in North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, media and social media monitoring and analysis, polling research, and a deep contextual knowledge to develop a model of political and social dynamics. The field research took place in 2020 and over 200 people were interviewed. Extensive media reviews were conducted for each country, and an online poll. In light of the difficulty in doing field work during COVID-19, this report provides an important overview of the situation in the two countries, from the ground up.
This study is a hybrid: Grounded in academic questions and literature, it strongly reflects the voices of ordinary people in localities that are often ignored in political discussions.
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Papers by Magdalena Lembovska
This study is a hybrid: Grounded in academic questions and literature, it strongly reflects the voices of ordinary people in localities that are often ignored in political discussions.
This study is a hybrid: Grounded in academic questions and literature, it strongly reflects the voices of ordinary people in localities that are often ignored in political discussions.
sense, the research follows two tracks – assessing the cooperation on strategic and top management level, but also practical implications of cooperation on the field.
between Athens and Skopje by investigating and assessing areas of existing cooperation, providing ‘lessons learned’ from it as well as proposing ways through which civil society collaboration could be strengthened in the future. The paper supports the Confidence Building Measures’ (CBMs) process initiated by Athens and Skopje by providing knowledge and expertise in relevant areas, such as more effective cooperation in European programmes (CBM action 2) and education and culture (CBM actions 4 and 5).
state of oversight over the use of communications interception measures.
such as smuggling of migrants.
This paper gives an account of the mechanisms available to the Macedonian parliament to conduct parliamentary oversight of the intelligence services, particularly those within the jurisdiction of the specialized parliamentary committees. It also examines cases from other states in the region and look for practices and legal solutions that they have established in order to encourage financial accountability of their intelligence services.
of the fact that this phenomenon is usually connected with organized and serious crime in the form of people smuggling and trafficking in human beings. One of the prerequisites in combating illegal migration and human smuggling is regional police cooperation. Although there have been lengthy police reform projects in the countries of the Western Balkans, they were mainly country-specific, selfcontained and lacking a regional approach. While many international initiatives have been undertaken, there seem to be three main challenges for satisfactory police cooperation in the field of
illegal migration: lack of human and administrative capacity, superficial cooperation and lack of police cooperation projects among Macedonia as non-EU and Greece as EU member states.
Therefore, opening joint contact centers, investment in joint investigation teams and intensified surveillance of the high risk borderlines are recommended for overcoming the identified challenges.
Since the EU promotes the same reforms and requirements for all potential member countries, analyzing and comparing the three case studies it is easier and more coherent. The researchers were instructed and provided with the
common methodology which was compiled by the project leader ‐ the Kosovar Center for Security Studies (KCSS). Each case study is focused on the actual contractual relations
with the EU focused on: a) rule of law, b) police reform, (c) effective border management, (d) migration flows and (e) visa and asylum regimes.
lastly, the control over the spending of public funds. The authors of this publication try to illuminate the stage to which Macedonia has progressed in the implementation of the second generation of Security Sector Reforms identified by Timothy Edmunds as “the consolidation of previous reforms, and the effective and efficient operation of institutions and procedures at a sustainable cost for the state and society.” The findings in this publication are a result of a three year long project “Civil Society Capacity Building to Map and Monitor Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans” carried out by a regional consortium of seven think tanks in the Western Balkans
Books by Magdalena Lembovska
This study is a hybrid: Grounded in academic questions and literature, it strongly reflects the voices of ordinary people in localities that are often ignored in political discussions.
This study is a hybrid: Grounded in academic questions and literature, it strongly reflects the voices of ordinary people in localities that are often ignored in political discussions.
This study is a hybrid: Grounded in academic questions and literature, it strongly reflects the voices of ordinary people in localities that are often ignored in political discussions.
sense, the research follows two tracks – assessing the cooperation on strategic and top management level, but also practical implications of cooperation on the field.
between Athens and Skopje by investigating and assessing areas of existing cooperation, providing ‘lessons learned’ from it as well as proposing ways through which civil society collaboration could be strengthened in the future. The paper supports the Confidence Building Measures’ (CBMs) process initiated by Athens and Skopje by providing knowledge and expertise in relevant areas, such as more effective cooperation in European programmes (CBM action 2) and education and culture (CBM actions 4 and 5).
state of oversight over the use of communications interception measures.
such as smuggling of migrants.
This paper gives an account of the mechanisms available to the Macedonian parliament to conduct parliamentary oversight of the intelligence services, particularly those within the jurisdiction of the specialized parliamentary committees. It also examines cases from other states in the region and look for practices and legal solutions that they have established in order to encourage financial accountability of their intelligence services.
of the fact that this phenomenon is usually connected with organized and serious crime in the form of people smuggling and trafficking in human beings. One of the prerequisites in combating illegal migration and human smuggling is regional police cooperation. Although there have been lengthy police reform projects in the countries of the Western Balkans, they were mainly country-specific, selfcontained and lacking a regional approach. While many international initiatives have been undertaken, there seem to be three main challenges for satisfactory police cooperation in the field of
illegal migration: lack of human and administrative capacity, superficial cooperation and lack of police cooperation projects among Macedonia as non-EU and Greece as EU member states.
Therefore, opening joint contact centers, investment in joint investigation teams and intensified surveillance of the high risk borderlines are recommended for overcoming the identified challenges.
Since the EU promotes the same reforms and requirements for all potential member countries, analyzing and comparing the three case studies it is easier and more coherent. The researchers were instructed and provided with the
common methodology which was compiled by the project leader ‐ the Kosovar Center for Security Studies (KCSS). Each case study is focused on the actual contractual relations
with the EU focused on: a) rule of law, b) police reform, (c) effective border management, (d) migration flows and (e) visa and asylum regimes.
lastly, the control over the spending of public funds. The authors of this publication try to illuminate the stage to which Macedonia has progressed in the implementation of the second generation of Security Sector Reforms identified by Timothy Edmunds as “the consolidation of previous reforms, and the effective and efficient operation of institutions and procedures at a sustainable cost for the state and society.” The findings in this publication are a result of a three year long project “Civil Society Capacity Building to Map and Monitor Security Sector Reform in the Western Balkans” carried out by a regional consortium of seven think tanks in the Western Balkans
This study is a hybrid: Grounded in academic questions and literature, it strongly reflects the voices of ordinary people in localities that are often ignored in political discussions.