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Between threat and opportunity: Anti-gender mobilisation in post-EU accession Croatia

Cupelli, Letizia Alice LU (2026) STVM23 20261
Department of Political Science
Abstract
This thesis investigates the role of EU accession in shaping the mobilisation strategies of anti-gender civil society actors in Croatia. Drawing on social movement theory, Europeanisation, and multi-level governance, it develops a causal mechanism whereby EU accession reconfigured anti-gender actors’ political opportunity structures in ways that contributed to a combination of EU-critical framing and EU-level engagement. This coexistence of strategies is conceptualised
as the anti-gender EU engagement paradox. The mechanism is tested through a theory-testing process tracing analysis of two Croatian organisations, Glas roditelja za djecu (GROZD) and U ime obitelji (UIO), spanning 2006 to 2024. The findings further refine the paradox as a... (More)
This thesis investigates the role of EU accession in shaping the mobilisation strategies of anti-gender civil society actors in Croatia. Drawing on social movement theory, Europeanisation, and multi-level governance, it develops a causal mechanism whereby EU accession reconfigured anti-gender actors’ political opportunity structures in ways that contributed to a combination of EU-critical framing and EU-level engagement. This coexistence of strategies is conceptualised
as the anti-gender EU engagement paradox. The mechanism is tested through a theory-testing process tracing analysis of two Croatian organisations, Glas roditelja za djecu (GROZD) and U ime obitelji (UIO), spanning 2006 to 2024. The findings further refine the paradox as a domestic feedback loop through which EU-level engagement is reinvested into national mobilisation. It concludes by reflecting on implications for EU oversight and anti-gender mobilisation in the Western Balkans. (Less)
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author
Cupelli, Letizia Alice LU
supervisor
organization
course
STVM23 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Anti-gender mobilisation, EU accession, Europeanisation, Social movement theory, Croatia
language
English
id
9227037
date added to LUP
2026-06-16 14:52:11
date last changed
2026-06-16 14:52:11
@misc{9227037,
  abstract     = {{This thesis investigates the role of EU accession in shaping the mobilisation strategies of anti-gender civil society actors in Croatia. Drawing on social movement theory, Europeanisation, and multi-level governance, it develops a causal mechanism whereby EU accession reconfigured anti-gender actors’ political opportunity structures in ways that contributed to a combination of EU-critical framing and EU-level engagement. This coexistence of strategies is conceptualised 
as the anti-gender EU engagement paradox. The mechanism is tested through a theory-testing process tracing analysis of two Croatian organisations, Glas roditelja za djecu (GROZD) and U ime obitelji (UIO), spanning 2006 to 2024. The findings further refine the paradox as a domestic feedback loop through which EU-level engagement is reinvested into national mobilisation. It concludes by reflecting on implications for EU oversight and anti-gender mobilisation in the Western Balkans.}},
  author       = {{Cupelli, Letizia Alice}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Between threat and opportunity: Anti-gender mobilisation in post-EU accession Croatia}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}