Alexandra Karppi
University of Graz
Alexandra Karppi is a 2026-2027 re:constitution Fellow, freelance journalist, and PhD candidate at the University of Graz’s Centre for Southeast European Studies. She researches democracy and civil society in the Western Balkans and currently co-hosts the bi-weekly Talk Eastern Europe podcast. Prior to this, she was head of research at the Balkan Free Media Initiative, a Brussels-based independent media watchdog, and was co-author of Freedom House’s annual report on democratic governance in Europe and Eurasia, Nations in Transit. Alexandra holds an MA in Russian, Eurasian, and East European Studies from Columbia University’s Harriman Institute and a BA in Political Science and Slavic Studies from Columbia College.
Contentious Activists or Loyal Mercenaries? Mapping Illiberal Civil Society in Serbia
How have hybrid regimes in the Western Balkans remained remarkably stable despite sustained public dissent? Existing explanations emphasize institutional capture, elite patronage, and international support, leaving comparatively little attention to the role of state-civil society relations. My research argues that the stability of hybrid regimes depends not only on their control of political institutions, but also on how they cultivate relationships with civic actors. Using Serbia as a case study, this project maps state-civil society relations to examine how different configurations of these relationships shape strategies of mobilization, legitimation, and stabilization in contemporary hybrid regimes. In doing so, it advances new understandings of hybrid governance while providing actionable insights for donors, policymakers, and civil society practitioners working to strengthen democratic resilience.

