Ethno-nationalism as a form of far-right extremism is spreading in Kosovo, especially in the northern part of the country and is posing a serious threat. Russia is also a promoter of this form of extremism with its disinformation.
These are the findings of the report “Fighting Extremism in Kosovo: Trends, Challenges and Countermeasures”, which was published at the regional conference organized by Sbunker with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kosovo.
Sbunker Executive Director Bardhi Bakija stated that extremism in Kosovo is focused more on religious radicalism, while right-wing extremism, ethno-nationalism and anti-gender movements have been left aside.Bakija says that far-right extremism is spreading at an incredible rate in Kosovo.
“For a long time, extremism in Kosovo has been treated as a security issue with a focus on religious radicalization, while right-wing extremism, ethno-nationalism and anti-gender movements have been sidelined as marginal concerns. The report we will present today challenges this view. Kosovo may not have had the same far-right mobilization as other European countries, but narratives, especially on social media, are spreading at an incredible rate. These are not just abstract ideas, they influence public discourse, shape our public debates and create the environment in which hate speech and exclusion become normalized. And now we are seeing it during this election campaign. What stands out in this research is how these narratives affect young people, from cyberbullying targeting minorities, women and LGBTIQ+ to the use of such platforms to spread misogynistic content. The impact is real and extremism is embedded within everyday culture," says Bakija.
