Hashim Thaci, President of the Republic of Kosovo, Pristina, Kosovo, February, 2018. Silas Stein/ Press Association. All rights reserved.
Tens of thousands of people took the streets of Prishtina, capital city of the Republic of Kosovo on September 29, 2018, to protest at both the ongoing form, and the eventual result, of the negotiations between the Republic of Kosovo and Republic of Serbia. This marks the first demonstration of the new wave of popular uprisings and unrest. But, what exactly did the people of Kosovo protest against?
According to (one of) the predominant liberal positions a propos Kosovo, the record of conflict and tensions in the Balkans is owing to a lack of communication and dialogue. If only the representatives of Serbia and the Republic of Kosovo could sit down and talk, we are told, the region’s history would have taken a different course. Indicative of this is the excitement shown by EU officials whenever the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia meet. According to this view, the mere fact of the two countries’ representatives shaking hands can be heralded as a major achievement.
