Protesting in Post-Conflict Societies: Evidence from Kosovo

• In Event: Activism, Protest and Regime Responses in post-Communist Eurasia

Abstract

This paper analyzes protests in post-conflict Kosovo. Most research on political protest has been conducted in wealthy, democratic and peaceful societies. We know far less about the drivers of protest in transitional democracies, particularly those that have recently emerged from armed conflict. To fill this gap, we investigate variation in protest participation in post-war Kosovo using data from nationally representative surveys and complementing the findings from our survey analysis with examination of archival protest data material. The survey responses of Kosovo citizens supported theories emphasizing the role of relative deprivation (particularly group discrimination) and networks. Support for opposition parties was also associated with protest participation. We found little evidence for the role of socio-economic and institutional support variables and mixed evidence for motivational variables. Analysis of archival material on protest events further reveals that post-conflict issues related to legacies of war are more salient than social and economic issues and wartime networks play a key role in post-conflict contentious collective action.

Authors

• Pëllumb Kelmendi, Auburn University

• Elton Skendaj, University of Miami