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If we take "power relations" as valid concept to consider when comparing nationalisms, we have to narrow down power relations to the Kosovo context (by taking into account institutional power and demographic structure - 90% Albanians and 5% Serbs).
If we take "power relations" as valid concept to consider when comparing nationalisms, we have to narrow down power relations to the Kosovo context (by taking into account institutional power and demographic structure - 90% Albanians and 5% Serbs).
For days I just observed all of the discussion about nationalisms in the Balkans, because I was questioning whether my input would only contribute to the tensions the discussion already creates.
As I see it, Kosovo Serbs and Presevo Albanians are potentially the biggest victims of the two chauvinisms nowadays, as we are minorities caught in between.
I understand that it's easier...
I understand that it's easier...
...for Serbs from Serbia, K-Albanians and international outsiders to discuss the whole issue - their skin is not in the game as much as the skin of K-Serbs and Presevo Albanians (in terms of risk for physical endangerment).
It’s the 2020 we're speaking of here and not the 90s.
It’s the 2020 we're speaking of here and not the 90s.
Discussing "power relations" in the broader Balkans context without taking into account narrow Kosovo context I simply see as justification of nationalism and contribution to the societal narrative which endangers my community in Kosovo.
I would not be alarmed by this matter if the whole discussion was confined to Serbian and Albanian ultra-nationalists who regularly spread hatred around.
What triggered me to write this thread is that...
What triggered me to write this thread is that...
...some of the members of KS society who are considered the most liberal and the progressive elite of society are defending the nationalist cause without taking into account what repercussions this could have on their compatriots coming from K-Serb community.
The obligation of the society intellectuals is to challenge the predominant nationalist narratives and contribute to creating conditions for minority integration. The elite is making the same mistake in combating nationalist narrative Serbian elite made in the 90s.
Meaning - they're not combating it, they're justifying it.
After seeing arguments of the progressives, what else is to be expected from the average nationalists but to use them in the following way:
After seeing arguments of the progressives, what else is to be expected from the average nationalists but to use them in the following way:
Kosovo Assembly Chairperson of the Committee on Security and Defense Affairs in 2017. openly threatened ethnic cleansing to K-Serbs?
Well, these are just colonists and Ku Klux Klan members. https://balkaninsight.com/2017/04/11/un-calls-kosovo-to-investigate-haradinaj-ethnic-cleansing-threat-04-11-2017/
Well, these are just colonists and Ku Klux Klan members. https://balkaninsight.com/2017/04/11/un-calls-kosovo-to-investigate-haradinaj-ethnic-cleansing-threat-04-11-2017/
Over 20 incidents of attacks against K-Serbs and their property?
Hey, they're just colonists and Ku Klux Klan members. https://twitter.com/NGO_Aktiv/status/1275697290322247681?s=20
Hey, they're just colonists and Ku Klux Klan members. https://twitter.com/NGO_Aktiv/status/1275697290322247681?s=20
Kosovo’s cultural heritage endangered?
Doesn’t matter, this is just a colonial stronghold. https://kossev.info/the-embassies-recalled-that-the-constitutional-court-s-decision-on-decani-monastery-s-land-has-not-been-implemented-even-4-years-later/
Doesn’t matter, this is just a colonial stronghold. https://kossev.info/the-embassies-recalled-that-the-constitutional-court-s-decision-on-decani-monastery-s-land-has-not-been-implemented-even-4-years-later/
Is this somehow related to power relations?
“96.84 per cent or 41,399 of usurped properties belonged to Serbs,” Krasniqi said. https://balkaninsight.com/2018/05/29/stolen-homes-kosovo-struggles-with-wartime-property-seizures-05-22-2018/
“96.84 per cent or 41,399 of usurped properties belonged to Serbs,” Krasniqi said. https://balkaninsight.com/2018/05/29/stolen-homes-kosovo-struggles-with-wartime-property-seizures-05-22-2018/
Dozen of Serb civilians including women and elderly beaten by Kosovo Police in 2019?
Well, they're just colonists and Ku Klux Klan members. https://twitter.com/lazrakic/status/1134951299634597888?s=20
Well, they're just colonists and Ku Klux Klan members. https://twitter.com/lazrakic/status/1134951299634597888?s=20
The list of examples continues, and we can go and individually ask this same elite who are now defending Albanian nationalism how many of them publicly reacted against this?
Kosovo belongs to us as much as to any other Kosovo citizen and it is up to the majority to stand up for the minority, and we all have the responsibility to challenge the predominant exclusive narratives considering the threat they possess.
Here, I want to thank @fbieber @Andric1961 @LTregoures and others writing on the Balkans from outside for calling out and consistently speaking against these narratives in the whole Balkans as well as true progressives both in Belgrade and Pristina.
Last but not least, while from human perspective (though not from intellectual) I can even understand, that Kosovo elite is investing emotions in this discussion, as memories are still vivid and their skin is also in the game when speaking of Serb-Albanian relations - yet...
...I cannot understand some other known figures from the outside who are writing on the Balkans and failing to take into account these imminent repercussions of the nationalism they’re defending.
