Beyond Transition: rethinking elite configurations in the Balkans

This article describes four types of new elites which have emerged in the post-post-socialism (PPS) period: a local political class, a comprador bourgeoisie of business people or NGO project staff (Euro-elites), a domestic business elite, and in areas of conflict, warlords and mafia chieftains. The four groups of elites compete for the resources and opportunities offered by project society in the era of European integration, economic reform and democracy promotion in Southeast Europe.