We need to talk about Mevlid – Vehabije and extremism in Bosnia and Serbia
If overlying, systemic issues are not addressed, then misperceptionsand security rhetoric regarding Wahhabism will put a serious strain on inter-community relations in the Western Balkans.
Politics by other means – netwar for Kosovo
Though an under-explored aspect of contemporary conflict, developments in information technology are fuelling the emergence of new forms of warfare which could pose a unique challenge to state's critical infrastructure.
Kosovo – an end to the northern crisis?
The new agreement between Belgrade and Pristina on the crossing points, plus the removal of some barricades, may provide an opportunity to finally end the current crisis in the north that began on July 25th.
EU integration pitfalls in the Western Balkans
Should stalemate in the European integration process not be properly managed both now and in the future, the EU risks a serious loss of credibility - both as a mediator and as “an anchor for change”.
Kosovo – sharing a conundrum
Beset with enormous - perhaps insurmountable - economic and political problems of their own, the Europeans seem uninterested and/or unable to support real solutions in the central Balkans.
The Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack
TransConflict is pleased to announce that it is now an affiliated organization of the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack.
Hate speech in public life
TransConflict Serbia - with the support of the Embassy of Switzerland in Belgrade - organized a panel discussion in Novi Pazar, entitled 'Hate Speech in Public Life'.
Separating religion and state in Bosnia
With the role of religion having remained largely ignored in post-Dayton Bosnia-Herzegovina, there is a need to promote a process of secularization by upholding the separation of church and state.
Facing far right extremism in Serbia
Reducing the threat of far right extremism - particularly its manifestation through terrorist means - involves finding a delicate balance between under-reacting and over-reacting; between giving tacit encouragement and sparking its escalation.
Leveraging weakness
Faced with outstanding conflicts over sovereignty in the Western Balkans, the EU's most efficacious strategy depends upon acknowledging and leveraging its own considerable limitations as an international actor.
Civil society in Bosnia – obstacle or opportunity?
The marginalization of civil society from Bosnia and Herzegovina's process of transition can, in part, be explained by the dominant ethno-nationalist agenda that has meant that civil society itself has been ethnicized and divided along ethnic lines
Recognising every casualty of armed violence
TransConflict has become a signatory to the Charter for the Recognition of Every Casualty of Armed Violence, which has at its core a simple principle that ‘no person should die unrecorded’.
About blood and honey
Almost twenty years on from the beginning of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, two Dutch journalists are travelling the country seeking answers to the question, does Bosnia and Herzegovina really exist?
More Europe in the Southeast is the answer?
Whilst imploring aspiring members to embrace its own system and values, the EU's selectiveimplementation of standards - depending on the case and context - means that countries of the region, particularly the Republic of Macedonia, should be cautious about accession.
Kiš, Selenić, Ugrešić and after – archivists of Yugoslavia disappeared
What happened to writers whose once-established literary and linguistic culture faced a campaign of obliteration, such as that conducted during the post-communist transition by secessionist elites and populists in the former Yugoslavia?
Greece – Balkan dissonance and the creation myth of “Europe”
Reeling European governments and the Brussels bureaucracy will become even less patient than before in dealing with a region where their serial failures to enforce their myth of civic identity and multi-ethnic integration have undermined the narrative of Europe as a united, just, effective and relevant international actor.
Euro-Atlanticism and the creation of a 'security community' in the Balkans
Pressure from the EU and NATO terminated the civil war in Yugoslavia, but this area has remained a potential crisis point due to the legacy of war, open ethnic and border disputes, and mutual mistrust between the successor states of the former Yugoslavia.
Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans
A recent conference explored some of the main obstacles - deriving from both internal and external sources - that the Western Balkans faces as it integrates into Euro-Atlantic structures.
Western Balkans – the situation is gloomier than it may seem
While the EU is closing the final chapters of the accession negotiations with Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro are keenly eyeing the prospect of becoming member candidates. However, can the EU integrate the whole region, including Kosovo and Bosnia?
Cross-border cooperation in the Western Balkans – roadblocks and prospects
Whilst business-related initiatives continue to drive regional and cross-border cooperation, politics and implementation capacity have failed to live-up to the standards expected by the plethora of international bodies engaged in strengthening this key area.
The dance of intimate enemies
Settlements in Bosnia and Kosovo (the former is no more “settled” than the latter) are possible only if local contestants — who know each other so well — expel international mavens from their discussions and take each other on directly.
Ples intimnih neprijatelja
Rešenja u Bosni i na Kosovu (prvi slučaj nije ništa više "rešen" u odnosu na potonji) su moguća samo ukoliko lokalni suprostavljeni akteri - koji se uzajamno jako dobro poznaju - iz svojih diskusija izbace međunarodne stručnjake i direktno se upuste u diskusiju jedni sa drugima.
The Western Balkans in 2010 – small improvements, big scandals
Though the prospect of EU candidate status spurred on some very real changes in the region in 2010 - particularly concerning regional co-operation and tackling corruption - several scandals, especially those in Kosovo, threaten to inhibit further progress.
Re-linking the Western Balkans – the energy dimension
This policy report analyzes the challenges that the Western Balkan countries face in their efforts to increase energy efficiency, reduce import dependency and expand renewable energy sources, whilst simultaneously aligning their legislation and policies with the EU's acquis communautaire.
Energy security and ethnic conflict – challenges in the Western Balkans
Energy security and stability in the Western Balkans faces two major challenges - the perception and implication of Russia's presence in Serbia, plus the enduring crisis of Kosovo's status.
