-
Where Have All The Powers Gone?
Written by Ilina Mangova
The article responds to the Secrets of Transformation multimedia series, a joint project of Bertelsmann Transformation Index and Deutsche Welle. When Montesquieu postulated the theory of separation of powers, he was most probably guided by the belief that “If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary”.[1] But […]
Author Archive
Ilina Mangova
Ilina Mangova does research on democratic governance, public opinion and elections. She holds a masters degree in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics for which she was awarded the Chevening scholarship. She has published numerous articles, policy papers, and research analysis on political issues in the region.
-
Get Out of the Local Box
Written by Ilina Mangova
‘I just sold organic honey from Brazil to Israel and now I’m working on selling wine from Spain to Ukraine’. This is how my friend Kiril describes his working day. Kiril is is a sales and business development consultant in a company he manages with a partner. It mainly operates […]
-
Stuck in the Middle of Nowhere: Life on under € 56 a Month
Written by Ilina Mangova
“I know it’s sinful, but sometimes I feel like committing suicide” are the words of a 66 years old woman I went to interview for this article in Skopje, Macedonia. Mona* suffers from hyperlipidaemia, heart problems, bronchitis and chronic sickness of the uterus. She has no way of paying for […]
-
Parks and Trees – Collateral Damage in the Make-Over of Downtown Skopje
Written by Ilina Mangova
The green public space has no owner. It belongs to everyone. Until, that is, it no longer is a green public space. In Skopje a heated debate is being waged about who the parks belong to. On one side is the Government which believes that it is the rightful owner, […]
-
Austerity without protests: how to do it?
Written by Ilina Mangova
In February and March 2011 thousands of citizens organized through social networks came out to protest in Zagreb against the worsening social and economic situation in Croatia. In January 2012 protests against austerity measures in Bucharest turned violent. In February 2013 the government of Bulgaria fell because of protests in […]
