Challenges to Democracy & Electoral Legitimacy: 

Republic of Croatia

Abstract

Through frank, revealing interviews conducted with noted Croatian political and humanitarian leaders, legal experts, and scholars, the presenters will examine the extent to which the Republic of Croatia’s electoral process has succeeded or failed in guaranteeing democratic rights to its citizens since its founding in 1991. The questions posed include: 1) Does the electoral process select leaders who act in the best interests of the people or of politicians with deep roots in the country’s troubled communist past?  2) Does the law wrest control from privileged elites, combat corruption, and result in policies that win public support and create a mandate that officials implement? 3) What have the results of the 2024 election revealed about Croatia’s pursuit of its rightful destiny – a democratic future?

Dorothy McClellan, Regents Professor of Criminal Justice

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi 

Dr. McClellan is an internationally renowned scholar in the field of criminal justice.  Her scholarly work focuses on international justice issues, criminal gangs and cartels, women and criminal justice, and juvenile delinquency.  She has been designated as a Fulbright Scholar by the U.S. Department of State under whose auspices she has represented the U.S., assisting with democratic nation building in post-conflict societies.  She is the author of scholarly publications that include dozens of articles, screenplays, and a book entitled Witnessing the Soviet Twilight.

She is the recipient of 9 major teaching awards, including the Minnie Stevens Piper Award for Texas, 3 Fulbright Awards, the Koch Outstanding Scholar Award, the Texas A&M University Excellence in Teaching Award, the TAMU-CC College of Arts & Humanities Excellence in Teaching Award, the Y Women & Careers Educational Award, and the Texas A&M University Regents Professorship Award.  She has served as an expert witness in the field of criminal justice for three decades. 

In 2014 she assisted the Bureau of International Narcotics & Law Enforcement of the U.S. Department of State as a reviewer of their Corrections Assistance Handbook for International Program Managers that deals with foreign nationals/criminals in prisons around the world.  

Nikola Knez

Founder of the 21st Century Society for Children’s Rights & Education and the Croatian Society for Human Rights, President, iFilms LLC. 

Nikola Knez is an internationally renowned, multi award-winning Croatian-American director and filmmaker with 30 years of U.S. and overseas filming experience, including during the Croatian War for Independence. His professional work focuses on international justice issues and democratic nation building in post-conflict societies. He is the recipient of more than 87 international film awards.

A United States citizen since 2009, he is a civil rights advocate who brings to his work a deep conviction that justice is achievable, that social responsibility and engagement are key elements of a fulfilled life.  He believes that film can influence public opinion and public policy, bringing a nation's behavior in line with international law. Mr. Knez is co-convener of two international conferences on human rights at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.  He is co-author of several academic publications on war and international justice, and a 2024 book-entitled The Noble Croatian Journey. His documentary films have premiered in the U.S. and Europe, including at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. and in Geneva, Switzerland.