SUPPRESSION OF POLITICAL OPPONENTS IN HYBRID REGIMES IN THE WESTERN BALKANS

Abstract

In the post-communist countries that today are referred to as the Western Balkans, 
processes of democratization began at the end of the twentieth century following the collapse of 
communist rule. However, instead of fully transitioning to democracy, these countries have 
developed hybrid regimes, a political systems that blend democratic and authoritarian elements. 
While multiparty elections are held, they are neither free nor fair. Political opposition exists and 
can criticize the government, but it is suppressed through subtle rather than brutal methods. One 
key strategy is legal repression, where political opponents face continuous pressure through 
inspections, audits and politically motivated investigations. Although these actions are formally 
justified within the legal framework, they are selectively applied to weaken critics and silence 
dissent. Intellectuals, writers, journalists, professors, judges, businessman and politicians critical 
of the government are disproportionately targeted while the institutions remain blind and silent 
about the abuses and crimes of the supporters of the ruling elites. In some cases, legal repression 
results in administrative or financial burdens for political critics, while in others, it escalates to 
criminal prosecution and imprisonment. Beyond legal repression, media control plays a crucial 
role in hybrid regimes. Rather than shutting down independent media outright, governments co
opt or financially pressure them to promote official narratives while marginalizing independent 
journalism. This allows ruling elites to use the media to discredit political dissidents, labelling 
them as traitors, foreign agents, criminals, spies, oligarchs etc. In some countries, such tactics were 
even institutionalized through lustration policies, further delegitimizing political opponents and 
reinforcing their exclusion from public life. All of this is happening in a context where state 
institutions and resources are abused for the party and personal goals of the ruling elites. This 
creates an uneven playing field, allowing the ruling political elites to grab the electoral legitimacy 
without facing the risks of democratic uncertainty.