Minority Participation in Kosovo Elections : Opportunities and Challenges (original) (raw)
Related papers
Democracy and the Rights of Non-Majority Communities at the Local Level in Kosovo
Journal of Liberty and International Affairs, Institute for Research and European Studies - Bitola
Democratic governance has to do with the majority's will, respecting the rights of communities and all citizens' well-being. In Kosovo, the rights of communities are regulated by the constitution and legislation, which guarantee the special rights of minority communities. One of the fundamental policies of governmental institutions was about decentralizing local self-government, designed to facilitate the creation of new municipalities of communities and their integration into the local institutions. Our purpose was to search and analyze the level of representation of communities in the local institutions, legal mechanisms that guarantee their rights, challenges in putting the rights of communities into practice, and the political steps that must be taken to achieve so. The methodology is based on quantitative research with 500 (five hundred) respondents in three municipalities: Pristina, Gracanica, and Dragash, where 59% of respondents are male and 41% are female. The results show that about 55% of the communities are somewhat satisfied with the constitutional guarantees, and 38% are represented in the institutional life of Kosovo. Implementing legal mechanisms has allowed the communities to have higher representation at institutional levels and be part of Kosovo society"s integrative processes.
ILIRIA International Review, 2013
Being aware of the role of electoral systems as the most important mechanisms of fostering political interaction in a political system of a certain democratic society, it is our intention to study and theoretically and practically analyze the establishment and functioning of the electoral system in Kosovo, in the temporal context of the last decade. Before that thought, several standard theoretical modalities attributable to electoral systems are to be set, with a view of explaining the role and functions of the electoral systems in consolidating basic attributes of a mature democracy.In our case studies, amongst the most important attributes under analysis are: elections, as an instrument of civil participation in public policies. Furthermore, in studying the function of elections, we shall make efforts to elaborate on the level of political culture in Kosovo, creation of authority and legitimacy, and the extent of maturity of Kosovar society itself.Since Kosovo has been under inte...
This article examines the extent to which effective political participation can be achieved through minority consultative bodies, and what obstacles and shortcomings can potentially occur in practice. The paper explores the Kosovo case, where a variety of minority consultative bodies were established in recent years to ensure effective minority participation and representation at the highest decision-making levels. It will be argued that despite the prospects of the established legal and institutional framework, these bodies have fallen short in providing a meaningful representation of minority interests and needs in Kosovo. This is largely affected by the intermeshed interests of elites among the majority and minority communities that prioritize their narrow interests to the expense of the developmental and emancipatory needs of marginalized minorities in Kosovo. Hence, a higher commitment and cooperation among the governmental authorities and minority representatives, together with adequate resources are critical for ensuring an effective minority participation in the public sphere.
Minority Veto Rights in Kosovo’s Democracy
The Age of Human Rights Journal
The political system of Kosovo belongs to the power sharing democracies. Indeed, it has all the characteristics of Consociational Democracy. In addition to that, minority veto rights are absolute and go above the aims of this type of democracy. As it is designed in current Constitutional arrangements, even a single word of Constitution can’t be changed without minorities’ vote. This is different from other Consociational Democracies, where minorities are entitled with selected veto power only regarding their vital interests, but they cannot block constitutional decision-making. Since Kosovo is among the youngest countries worldwide, this constitutional provision can be a heavy obstacle even in the state building efforts of majority. Therefore, in this article we will try to explain in depth this constitutional arrangement versus principles of sharing power systems and versus similar democracies in the region and wider. The doctrinal constitutional interpretation, descriptive and co...
Minority Rights: An Opportunity for Adjustment of Ethnic Relations in Kosovo?
There is a prevailing perception in Kosovo that minority rights are nothing but ‘ad hoc compromises’ that were paid in return for Kosovo statehood. This paper presents a two-fold argument. First, although Kosovo has ensured the legal entrenchment of ‘group-differentiated rights’ for minority communities in Kosovo, implementation of those rights remains weak. Second, ethnic relations between majority and minority communities living in Kosovo is understood through an essentialist perspective of ethnicity, which encouraged both Albanian and Serbian leaders in Kosovo to take an ethnic approach to politics in order to preserve their power, presenting themselves as the ‘true’ defenders of their ethnic group. This paper concludes that the main impediment to minority communities enjoying the highest democratic standards is not Kosovo’s legislation but its implementation, which illustrates the unwillingness of the political leadership and institutions to meaningfully embrace minority rights as an existential necessity for Kosovo society.
VOTING TRENDS AND ELECTORAL BEHAVIOR IN KOSOVO 2000 - 2004
One of the main features of democracy is to have free and fair elections as well as ensure that the trust of the voters is faithfully represented in the institutions elected to govern them. Kosovar politicians and foreign diplomats spend a lot of their time speaking about democracy. This paper suggests that the establishment of a fully functional democratic system in Kosovo leaves plenty to desire. This recognition runs against the official position of many elected officials and representatives of the international administration. We suggest that the problem is acute and could not be satisfactorily solved without improvement in the overall lines of responsibility and accountability. This would require that UNMIK and PISG structures recognize the shortcomings of the political system in general, and of the electoral system in particular, and put these on high priority en par with stability and status. This paper looks back at the four elections that Kosovo has had from 2000 until 2004, and assesses their effects on the political culture today. The paper concurs with most other stakeholders that the elections were free and fair. However, it stops short of concluding that the citizens’ trust has been faithfully represented in electing national and local representatives (with the notable exception of the set-aside seats). Whereas elected representatives have proportionally been elected, their accountability to those who have elected them remains limited at best. The electoral system that Kosovo has had so far, List-PR (closed lists, proportional representation) has served its purpose in the first term. It allowed political parties to consolidate in the immediate phase after the war, but it was the wrong choice to make for the second term. As we found in 2004 while lobbying to change the electoral system as part of a civil society movement, “Reforma 2004”, most NGOs, high officials of all the main parties (one former and the then prime-minister in office, the President of the assembly), as well as most international officials in their private capacities objected the current system. This system by definition helps party leaders put their parties firmly under their control. This occurs especially in societies with no established democracy and as such presents an obstacle to its further consolidation. Unfortunately, independent politicians are still considered a nuisance not only to party leaders, but also to those international administrators who think that status and security can be solved without democracy. As a result, this system has discouraged the development of proper democracy at the expense of some more narrow and immediate interests.
Ethnic Minorities and Political Participation: A Comparative Study of Post-Yugoslav Countries
Understanding patterns of political participation of ethnic minorities is crucial for their integration within postcommunist European countries most of which are ethnically complex and with histories of conflicts. Past research on the relationship between political participation and ethnicity in the democracies has given mixed results and there seems to be a research gap in the literature regarding the patterns of political participation of minorities in postcommunist states. The present study examined differences on two measures of political participation in a representative sample of post-Yugoslav citizens. Employed data source was the South-East European Social Survey Project (SEESSP), fielded in 2003 and 2004. The SEESSP covered six former Yugoslav entities (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, and Serbia). Results indicated that ethnic minorities had lower levels of electoral participation in four out of six analysed political entities, and had lower levels of party membership in three countries. In addition, a significant voter turnout gap existed among different minorities within individual countries. Finally, no major differences in motives behind political participation were found when comparing the association between authoritarian attitudes and political participation within majority and minority groups. Implications of the results are discussed.
Pravni zapisi
In multiethnic states, in which numerically large national, ethnic or linguistic minorities exist with a strong distinct identity, the principle of democracy requires that these groups have representatives in parliaments. However, in many multiethnic states the national-ethnic majority makes efforts to exclude or minimize the representation of minority national-ethnic groups in legislative bodies. Serbia and Hungary are nation states with relatively high percentage of citizens belonging to national-ethnic minorities, and with developed systems of the protection of minority rights. Both states enacted electoral laws facilitating the representation of national minorities in highest elected state bodies. This article describes, critically analyzes and compares the electoral rules and their practical implementation in both states, in order to answer the question whether these rules make it efficiently possible for national minorities to acquire proper representation in parliament. In or...
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS Minority Rights and Participation, Views from Kosovo, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Hungary, 2024
In contemporary societies, the inclusion and participation of minority communities in decision- making processes are recognized as crucial elements for fostering social cohesion, promoting democratic governance, and addressing systemic inequalities. This paper explores the common challenges faced by non-majority communities in Kosovo, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, drawing on a rich tapestry of qualitative data collected through interviews and focus groups. The data presented in this analysis sheds light on the complex interplay of political, social, and institutional factors that shape the experiences of minority communities in each country. Through a comparative analysis of the data, this paper seeks to elucidate the underlying dynamics that shape minority experiences across different national contexts. By examining the legal and political mechanisms available to facilitate participation, assessing the efficacy of existing policies, and exploring the nexus between inclusion and community safety, the paper offers valuable insights into the opportunities and obstacles facing minority communities in Kosovo, Slovakia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, while also offering a comprehensive analysis of the challenges, opportunities, and policy implications derived from the data collected. Through an exploration of key themes such as political representation, discrimination, access to services, and community safety, the paper aims to provide a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics shaping minority inclusion in decision- making processes. By engaging with the voices of those directly affected by discrimination and marginalization, this analysis seeks to amplify minority perspectives and advocate for policy reforms that advance social equity and solidarity.