Survey: Rise in anti-Serbian narrative and religious extremism in Kosovo

Ethnonationalism, anti-gender narratives, religious extremism, and anti-Serbian rhetoric in Kosovo are interconnected and on the rise, contributing to societal divisions - this was stated at a regional conference in Pristina on January 29, organized as part of the project "Combating Extremism in Kosovo: Trends, Challenges, and Countermeasures," reports RSE.

Researcher and report author Adelina Hasani noted that ethnonationalism in Kosovo is a consequence of unresolved issues from the 1990s and wartime events, with political discourse prevailing due to the lack of transitional justice resolution.

"Right-wing extremism and narratives are spreading in Kosovo. Ethnonationalism is primarily represented among ethnic Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo, which is understandable considering the legacy of the 1990s. However, ethnonationalism deepens the division between Serbs and Albanians and hinders the reconciliation process," she said.

Data for the research "Combating Extremism in Kosovo" were mainly collected through public discussions in several municipalities in Kosovo, utilizing various local and international studies that deal with extremism.

However, focus groups were not held in the northern municipalities of Kosovo, where the majority Serbian population lives, due to the political situation, as stated.

Discussing the trend of ethnonationalism among the Albanian community in Kosovo, Hasani pointed out that it is predominantly present in narratives on social media and public discourse, with "stigmatization of the Serbian community" being evident.

She mentioned that Kosovo is a multiethnic country but faces hurdles in becoming an inclusive society because the authorities show inconsistency in using Kosovo symbols, such as the flag.

"The use of the Albanian flag in many institutions leads to insecurity not only among the Serbian community but also other minority communities in Kosovo," she added.

Hasani highlighted that ethnonationalism among the Serbian community is mainly present in the municipalities in northern Kosovo, partly a result of disinformation originating from Russia and spread through media from Serbia.

"We have narratives claiming that there is a desire to expel Serbs from northern Kosovo, which increases fear among the Serbian community," she said.

In the study "Combating Extremism in Kosovo: Trends, Challenges, and Countermeasures," an anti-gender narrative was identified, mainly directed against the LGBT population and abortion.

"One group advocating this narrative tries to protect the traditional family. They see the LGBT community as a threat because they believe it destroys family values, envisioning the family as father, mother, and child," explained researcher Adelina Hasani.

She stressed that such narratives have also been promoted by some members of the Kosovo Assembly.

"The anti-gender narrative is also prevalent on social media, directed towards women's rights activists," she added.

Regarding religious extremism, Hasani pointed out that this phenomenon peaked in Kosovo in 2014 but is still present in society.

"Security institutions have been very strict towards religious radicalism, and now it is mostly expressed within family circles. What I see as a threat is that religious extremism can impact the development of democratic values and the entire society. Those who promote religious extremism aim to portray democracy as a corrupt, failed system and present themselves as alternatives," she said.

Hasani concluded that understanding these trends will help find long-term solutions to curb them.

The study "Combating Extremism in Kosovo: Trends, Challenges, and Countermeasures" also offers a series of recommendations to institutions concerning the rise of this phenomenon, including developing socio-cultural programs for youth, finding ways to reduce "online extremism" such as hate speech, and addressing issues of transitional justice and historical narratives.

As part of this project, a website has been launched that includes practical toolkits designed for teachers, educators, local leaders, and community leaders to help them prevent extremism at early stages.

This project was funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands and implemented by the non-governmental organization Sbunker, which promotes democratic values in Kosovo and the region. The aim of the project is to provide a comprehensive overview of extremism in Kosovo and recommendations for its mitigation.