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BALKAN PERSPECTIVES

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NEVER AGAIN? From Bosnia to Ukraine

Sarajevo 1992 – Kyiv 2022 We stand witness that even 30 years after Sarajevo 1992, the ideas of fascism, hatred, and divisions are still very much alive. So is the heroic fight for justice, freedom, and peace. The citizens of Bucha, Kyiv, Mariupol, and many other cities in Ukraine are living through terror, aggression, and a humanitarian catastrophe. Very much […]

Russian Invasion in Ukraine Awakens Fear and Flashbacks in Kosovo

President Vladimir Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine on February 24, 2022, stunned the world. That move produced seismic shockwaves across Europe, and in particular in the Western Balkans, a region which went through the devastating consequences of war only three decades ago. People in Kosovo and in the Western Balkans understand the consequences of war, ethno-centric narratives, and nationalism. There […]

In the Shadow of the Ukrainian War: Flashbacks and the Future Vision in Kosovo

When Russia started its invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022, the eyes and minds of the entire world were drawn to the sudden escalation in what, for almost a decade, had been a hibernating conflict as far as the world media was concerned, and as far as the global audience was aware of. However, in wars, most of the story is recorded outside of the official documentation. It is written in invisible and indelible ink […]

Balkan.Perspectives Podcast

The Balkan Perspectives podcast is forumZFD’s audio format on Dealing with the Past and Peace Education in the Western Balkans. The podcast is produced in four languages (Albanian, BHCS, Macedonian and English) by the forumZFD offices in Bosnia and Hercegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia.

Beyond the Enthusiasm of Youth

As I was pondering how to start this article, I recalled how after the revolution or putsch of 5 October (depending how various people see it), when Milošević was kicked out of politics, the great reactivation of youth occurred sometime around mid-2006 with the referendum for the amendment of the Constitution of Serbia and the parliamentary elections of 2008. If we analyse […]

To include the youth in conversation about the past – the only solution to the future of peace in the region

The process of transitional justice and dealing with the past has been going on for over twenty-six years. However, it seems that credible information about the war, and about the process of reconciliation between the countries in the region is not available to young people in Serbia. The Balkan Perspectives interviewees agree that institutions bear great responsibility, along with the […]

Youth Engagement in reconciliation processes

Throughout history, the region of the Western Balkans has been an overly complex one. For some, the Balkans produced more history than it can consume, and this has been the root cause or the casus belli of numerous conflicts in the 1990s. However, for other critics, cultural diversity poses a potential threat to the region. The diversity of the Balkans […]

Why is Journalism a Peace Mission?

I firmly believe that journalism, as a force of responsible, professional, and ethical public speech, has the potential to create a democratic and open society. In this article I share personal reflections on why I perceive journalism as a peace mission, especially in a post-conflict society such as Bosnia and Herzegovina. Here – under the influence of nationalistic politics – […]

THE “YOUTH” GENERATION

The history of Bosnia and Herzegovina has many words to say about the young people living there. Those words, however, have yet to find their way to a common binder. Marked by a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-national coexistence, we are still unable to finalize the process of building peace, or at least establishing a lasting dialogue. Peace cannot come without […]

How Can A Critical Mindset of the Youth Help Our Society Move Forward?

Just as bridges are important to cross from one side of the river to the other, so are the youth and their role in allowing our society to keep moving forward. We would all appreciate relying on a safe bridge that would not let us fall into the river. So, what makes us feel safer while crossing over a bridge? […]

Youth – “The Critical Yeast” of Peacebuilding and Reconciliation in the Balkans

“If we are to reach real peace in the world, we shall begin with the youth,” Mahatma Gandhi once said. The same could be applied in the case of peace and reconciliation process in the Balkans. Young people, born during and after the wars in Yugoslavia, are precisely those who can play the crucial role in building peace. When asked […]

EU’s Transitional Justice Framework Faces Denial of the Past in Former Yugoslavia

Interview by Serbeze Haxhiaj The European Commission Progress Report for Kosovo 2021 suggested that the country develops an “overarching strategy” for transitional justice, including a comprehensive approach to addressing its past. The EU executive branch also reminded Belgrade authorities to show a “genuine commitment” to investigating and adjudicating war crimes cases. Aidan Hehir, a Reader in International Relations at the […]

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