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682. Citizens' Perceptions on Kosovo's EU Integration Perspective and Regional and International Cooperation
- Author:
- Dea Fetiu and Shpat Balaj
- Publication Date:
- 06-2022
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
- Abstract:
- This Western Balkans Security Barometer report examines the perceptions of Kosovo citizens about Kosovo's EU integration process, and the regional and international cooperation. This report consists of two sections. The first section analyzes the public perceptions towards the EU integration, Kosovo’s progress in fulfilling the EU membership criteria, the bilateral relations, and the influence of EU countries towards Kosovo, and an assessment of the EU as a mediator in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. The second section addresses regional cooperation within the Western Balkans countries, the bilateral relations, and the influence of these countries towards Kosovo. The analysis of this report is based on the results of the survey through face-to-face interviews with randomly selected respondents throughout Kosovo, in September, 2021.
- Topic:
- Security, Foreign Policy, International Cooperation, Public Opinion, European Union, Regional Integration, and Perception
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans
683. The impact of disinformation and political polarization during COVID-19 pandemic in Kosovo
- Author:
- Shpat Balaj and Skender Perteshi
- Publication Date:
- 06-2022
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
- Abstract:
- This report is an attempt to document instances of disinformation and political polarization during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kosovo and to trace their implications in shaping the public’s attitudes to the pandemic and the pandemic’s management. Through a set of mixed methods, which include desk research, media monitoring, focus group queries and public opinion instruments, the report identifies the most frequent disinformation narratives encountered in Kosovo’s public domain, studies the way they connect to global and regional narratives related to COVID-19 pandemic and investigates how key upheavals in the country’s political environment undermined Kosovo’s vaccination bid and contributed to public’s vaccines reluctance and the subsequent record number of deaths. Through examples in Kosovo, the report corroborates recent scholarly finds that examine the public’s trust in government and that country’s vulnerability to disinformation. The report shows that the trust towards the institutions, and the politicization of public health issues, affects the public perceptions around public health issues, resulting in an environment with more potential for the penetration of disinformation. In this vein, the report concludes that the mainstream media’s efforts to produce and provide credible information to the public about COVID-19 is challenged by the presence of false and fake news and conspiracies about the virus and the pandemic disseminated primarily through social media and unverified online sources.
- Topic:
- COVID-19, Disinformation, Polarization, and Trust
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans
684. Kosovo citizens perceptions of violent extremism and reintegration and rehabilitation of the returnees
- Author:
- Shpat Balaj
- Publication Date:
- 05-2022
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
- Abstract:
- Kosovo citizens continue to perceive violent extremism as a threat for the national security of Kosovo. Majority (76%) of the WBSB respondents believe that violent extremism presents a high threat or a threat for Kosovo. As per the forms of violent extremism, Kosovo citizens see the ethno/national based violence as the most threating, with 42 percent of respondents sharing the opinion that it presents a high threat for the security of Kosovo. Political based violence is perceived as a high threat for the security of Kosovo by 38 percent of the WBSB respondents, while religious based violence is perceived as threatening by 34 percent of the respondents. Kosovo, as other European countries, have faced challenges with respect to participation of citizens in foreign conflicts. The WBSB data shows that 37 percent of the respondents see citizens that participated in the war zones in Syria and Iraq and returned to Kosovo, as a high threat potential for the country.
- Topic:
- National Security, Public Opinion, Violent Extremism, Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Perception
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans
685. Citizens perceptions of integrity of public institutions in Kosovo
- Author:
- Shpat Balaj
- Publication Date:
- 03-2022
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS)
- Abstract:
- The Kosovo Security Forces, the Kosovo Police, the President of Kosovo and the Municipalities are the most trusted public institutions in Kosovo, with over 50 percent of respondents declaring that they trust or completely trust these institutions. This is followed by the Kosovo Customs and the Kosovo Intelligence Agency with 45 percent of respondents sharing such an opinion. On the other hand, less than 40 percent of the respondents declared that they trust or completely trust Courts, Prosecution, Kosovo Correctional Services, the Government of Kosovo and the Kosovo Assembly. The results of the report show that citizens of Kosovo find the security institutions more reliable with a higher level of trust towards them, compared to other public institutions in Kosovo, such as the justice institutions which citizens perceive less trustworthy and with weak integrity. The citizen confidence in the institutions of the Courts and the Prosecution in Kosovo has been consistently in decline, and this is concerning. Citizens have higher confidence in the public institutions from the central level, especially when compared to the previous year (2020), however, the skepticism towards these institutions generally prevails.
- Topic:
- Corruption, Governance, Public Opinion, Institutions, and Trust
- Political Geography:
- Europe, Kosovo, and Balkans
686. The role of local governance in achieving political stability: A joint public-private effort towards sustainable development
- Author:
- Pranish Desai
- Publication Date:
- 11-2022
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Good Governance Africa (GGA)
- Abstract:
- Improving local governments' performance is vital because it is the governance sphere that is closest to local communities, local businesses, and local economic activities. It is in the best interest of companies operating in municipalities to play an active role in ensuring that their host municipalities can effectively deliver services, maintain infrastructure and plan for the future, thereby catalysing sustainable development. This will not only benefit municipalities and businesses but communities at large.
- Topic:
- Governance, Economy, Political stability, and Municipalities
- Political Geography:
- Africa
687. The Russia-Ukraine War and addressing Africa's food security challenges
- Author:
- Stephen Buchanan-Clarke
- Publication Date:
- 08-2022
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Good Governance Africa (GGA)
- Abstract:
- The Russia-Ukraine war has highlighted and worsened systemic weaknesses in the current international food system which pose a disproportionate risk to African countries, and companies doing business in Africa, due in large part to their high dependence on fuel and food imports.
- Topic:
- Food Security, Business, Imports, and Russia-Ukraine War
- Political Geography:
- Africa, Russia, and Ukraine
688. Implications of COP26 for Africa's mining industry
- Author:
- Vincent Obisie-Orlu
- Publication Date:
- 04-2022
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Good Governance Africa (GGA)
- Abstract:
- Due to the importance of critical minerals in the energy transition, the mining industry has a significant role to play in the pursuit of a net-zero future. At the same time, critical minerals mining is an environmentally damaging process, often occurring in jurisdictions with poor labour and environment standards, compounded by political instability risk. The recently concluded 26th Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) shows that Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) integration must play a larger role in the mining industry.
- Topic:
- Climate Change, Environment, Political stability, Mining, Industry, and Minerals
- Political Geography:
- Africa
689. Philanthropic Funding for Parent, Caregiver, and Family Support Programs in the Global South
- Author:
- Sweta Shah
- Publication Date:
- 01-2022
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- Elevate Children Funders Group
- Abstract:
- The evidence is clear that from the moment a child is conceived, they need their parents, caregivers, and/or families to survive, thrive, and meet their developmental potential. Earlier this year, the ECFG Parenting & Family Strengthening interest group identified the need to understand philanthropic investments that support the adults whose behaviors, skills, and well-being impact children’s development. ECFG commissioned this exercise to map foundation investments in parenting and caregiving across the Global South. This mapping explores the who, what, when, where, and how of these investments.
- Topic:
- Children, Investment, Family, Philanthropy, Funding, and Caregivers
- Political Geography:
- Global South
690. Is a Genocide of Muslims Underway in India?
- Author:
- Bridge Initiative Team
- Publication Date:
- 10-2022
- Content Type:
- Special Report
- Institution:
- The Bridge Initiative, Georgetown University
- Abstract:
- Over the past decade, India has experienced a dangerous rise in Islamophobia. There are near daily episodes of harassment, public beatings and mob assaults, destruction of property, and lynchings that have created an atmosphere of fear for the country’s 200+ million Muslims. The rise in this bigotry has largely come into being with the election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a right-wing Hindu nationalist party. Videos of BJP politicians and right-wing Hindu religious leaders calling on Hindus to bear arms and to kill Muslims have become a normal feature in Modi’s India, where the Prime Minister has failed to condemn such rhetoric or speak out against the rising instability and divisions within society. The inaction and appeasement by the judiciary, law enforcement, and senior levels of government has signaled to the followers of Hindutva, a far-right political ideology that advocates for Hindu supremacy, that those in power support their efforts to carry out their mission of making India a Hindu-only nation. With this, the threat of mass atrocities is growing and becoming a dangerous reality. This report examines the situation in India utilizing Gregory Stanton’s 10 stages of genocide, and finds that examples of the first 8 stages of genocide are present in India. Currently, the country is teetering at stage 8 (persecution) with the indicators of stage 9 (extermination) becoming more and more visible. Islamophobia has been central to the BJP and the Hindu nationalist movement, as their goals are reliant on the subordination and dehumanization of Indian Muslims.
- Topic:
- Genocide, Islamophobia, Narendra Modi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Muslims
- Political Geography:
- South Asia and India