Trading with the enemy in Mitrovica, Kosovo. - RUhosting

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3.3. Fitting Mitrovica into this theoretical framework. The “trade brings peace” theory, either as part of the Kantian Peace, Liberal Peace or other theories, is relevant for a better understanding of the effects of inter-ethnic trade on the relations between Albanians and Serbs because of some similarities between inter-ethnic trade and trade between states. The “trade brings peace” claim is focussed on states and its effects are mainly attributed to (economic) interdependence. It seems plausible to believe that interdependence could have the same effect on ethnic communities instead of states. As two ethnic communities become more interdependent this may raise the costs of conflict between those communities. People or specifically traders may, out of fear of losing their business, be more willing to speak out against voices within their own community who call for violence. During times of crisis these same traders may be more willing to help, or at least refrain from violence towards the other ethnicity to protect their business interests. That this is not pure speculation is shown by behaviour of traders during the mass-riots of 2004. Most business relationships did withstand the violence of March 2004 and many people who worked in inter-ethnic business enterprises helped their counterparts and even continued trading with them during these riots. The NGO 'Mercy Corps' had a programme which linked Albanian businesses with business of Serbs, and vice versa. Their evaluation of this programme noted that all of these created business enterprises did survive the riots and many participants of this programme called one another (of the other ethnicity) to check if they were not harmed (CARE, 2006). CARE's research report (2006) does note however that the interdependence created was not strong enough for individuals to take action against the violence and generally remained limited to the intra-community rules on inter-ethnic contact. Another reason why it is interesting to apply the Kantian Peace to Mitrovica is because Mitrovica seems to be swimming against the regular flow of this theory. Based on liberal arguments trade between countries is often increased with the goal of also improving relations between those states. The governments in Belgrade and Pristina do not have this goal however, as Belgrade is even actively pursuing bad relations. Despite this the population is massively trading across the border, and Serbia remains one of Kosovo´s biggest trading partners. So maybe, through this trade and because of other pragmatic factors the situation on the ground is changing despite both governments continued hostility to each other. The Kantian Peace theory and other related theories have generally ignored what is happening at a micro level, and hopefully this thesis can shed a light on this as well. Last, the topic of illegal trade is especially relevant for Mitrovica because in this city criminals are often in business with radical politicians and vice versa, and sometimes the radical politicians are criminals themselves. Among those are illegal traders who make a profit by dealing with the other ethnic group. Since inter-ethnic contact is forbidden this results in a very profitable monopoly for them – something they prefer not to give up easily. It is in their best interest to keep the situation tense and unstable, and oppose ethnic integration so their monopolised inter-ethnic illegal trade is not harmed. Acting out of individual self-interest they spread radical ideals, keep the enemy-image alive and punish people engaging in inter-ethnic contact. 23
This part of inter-ethnic trade can seriously harm inter-ethnic relations and integration. This will be discussed in further detail in the context and result chapters, but for now it should be clear that there are important differences between illegal and legal trade and that there is trade that can be positive and or negative for inter-ethnic relations. 24
Page 1 and 2: Nijmegen School of Management, Radb
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
Page 5 and 6: CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION “Sixteen
Page 7 and 8: Governmental Organisations (IGO's)
Page 9 and 10: 1.4. Thesis organisation - Short ou
Page 11 and 12: I learned a lot from it, as I found
Page 13 and 14: Of the seventeen people interviewed
Page 15 and 16: interesting experience was organisi
Page 17 and 18: Mitrovica Serb admitted that when h
Page 19 and 20: CHAPTER 3: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK "P
Page 21 and 22: 4. Trade encourages the broader exp
Page 23: Miljacka River, separating the Serb
Page 27 and 28: For the largest part of the past 60
Page 29 and 30: “Because of such dissatisfactions
Page 31 and 32: sent all colonists back to Kosovo.
Page 33 and 34: Conditions have improved and the de
Page 35 and 36: Albanians reacted to these new poli
Page 37 and 38: same: First an Albanian village whi
Page 39 and 40: Data from the SOK is sometimes used
Page 41 and 42: the highest aid per capita ever giv
Page 43 and 44: Country % of Export % of Import Alb
Page 45 and 46: which were in turn disbanded in fav
Page 47 and 48: Another similarity between both com
Page 49 and 50: situation developed in favour of th
Page 51 and 52: its economic situation. Mitrovica u
Page 53 and 54: CHAPTER 5: RESULTS Placing inter-et
Page 55 and 56: Albanian” and by Serbs associated
Page 57 and 58: “But I will never accept the inde
Page 59 and 60: Another important reason why reconc
Page 61 and 62: “Everything that happens in Mitro
Page 63 and 64: August 2009 with violent protests a
Page 65 and 66: nationalists” because he believes
Page 67 and 68: (respondent #4). A Serb working in
Page 69 and 70: CHAPTER 6: RESULTS Views on the eff
Page 71 and 72: elieves inter-ethnic trade will imp
Page 73 and 74: Trader 3. Respondent #7, an Albania
Page 75 and 76:
daughter of his sister who went to
Page 77 and 78:
issues. On top of that you have to
Page 79 and 80:
towards their colleagues of the oth
Page 81 and 82:
that even if the legal or the grey
Page 83 and 84:
2004. Second, Blanton argues that "
Page 85 and 86:
REFERENCES Andreas, P. (2004). The
Page 87 and 88:
Lagazio, M., & Russett, B. (2004).
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