The research project investigates in how far the state monopoly on the use of force and the law enforcement capacity ("shadow of hierarchy") are peconditions for successful cooperation between state and non-state actors in coping with political problems in areas of limited statehood. We will conduct a comparative case study on the transposition of EU prescriptions for good governance, focussing on the fight against corruption within the European Neighbourhood Policy in the three countries of the Southern Caucasus and Belarus.