SKIN IN THE GAME - Inter-ethnic cooperation despite political havoc?

Abstract

Kosovo has throughout history been inhabited by several different minorities and its status as a sovereign country is still contested, despite its declaration of independence in 2008. The country has struggled with conflicts which culminated in armed warfare in 1999. However, despite it conflicted past, inter-ethnic relations between the two biggest ethnic groups, Albanians, and Serbs, have seen rather peaceful periods with well-functioning cooperation. In academia, it is often argued that ethnically divided settings such as Kosovo are predestined for ethnic conflict. The hypothesis of this research is that the role of ethnicity in these conflicts is exaggerated. Studies have shown that ethnically divided settings can survive, or even be strengthened, despite surrounding conflicts and violence; as was the case in several parts of former Yugoslavia. In other words, the citizens of these ethnically divided settings find a way of life together despite surrounding conflicts. This phenomenon is often referred to as peace culture. By using theories on cooperation, in combination with the concept of peace culture, this study aims to showcase functioning inter-ethnic cooperation in ethnically divided societies in Kosovo. Through interviews with local Albanians and Serbs, mostly from north Kosovo, this study shows that inter-ethnic cooperation is very much present and rather well-functioning. The findings of this research also show that elites can negatively affect inter-ethnic relations, sometimes even more than ethnical differences, which are oftentimes seen as the root of conflict. Respondents argued that local politicians rarely act for the interest of the people, and oftentimes even fuel conflicts along ethnic lines in order to stay in power. In contrast to elites, local citizens have skin in the game and are therefore directly affected by their everyday encounters with the other ethnic group. Thus, despite ethnic differences, they take part in inter ethnic cooperation as it is in their best interest to have functioning relations for a brighter futur