Trading with the enemy in Mitrovica, Kosovo. - RUhosting

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................................. 1
NOTES................................................................................................................................................ 1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................... 3
CHAPTER 1:INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... 4
1.1. Research Purpose - Topic / thesis question.................................................................................. 6
1.2. Problem Formation....................................................................................................................... 7
1.3. Research Relevance...................................................................................................................... 7
1.4. Thesis organisation - Short outline of research............................................................................ 8
CHAPTER 2: METHODS.......................................................................................................... 9
2.1. Used methods – the Extended Case Method ............................................................................... 9
2.2. How the research was conducted and data analysis................................................................... 11
2.3. Practical limitations and considerations..................................................................................... 14
2.4. Ethical considerations................................................................................................................. 17
CHAPTER 3: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK.................................................................. 18
3.1. The Kantian Peace...................................................................................................................... 18
3.2. The war economy. ...................................................................................................................... 21
3.3. Fitting Mitrovica into this theoretical framework. .................................................................... 23
CHAPTER 4: CONTEXT......................................................................................................... 25
4.1 Recent history of Kosovo's inter-ethnic conflict. ....................................................................... 25
4.2 Current economical and geopolitical situation. .......................................................................... 37
4.3 Mitrovica..................................................................................................................................... 42
CHAPTER 5: RESULTS, part 1. ............................................................................................ 52
The context in which inter-ethnic relations and trade are happening in Mitrovica.
5.1 Current inter-ethnic relations in Kosovo and Mitrovica............................................................. 52
5.2 Foreign intervention and a wish for reconciliation by the international community.................. 56
5.3 A failing economy makes peace more difficult. ......................................................................... 58
5.4 Opposite politics striving for either integration or disintegration. ............................................. 59
5.5 The rules of the inter-ethnic game. ............................................................................................. 65
5.6. How this context shapes and limits inter-ethnic trade. .............................................................. 66
CHAPTER 6: RESULTS, part 2. ............................................................................................ 68
Views on the effects of inter-ethnic trade by experts in Kosovo.
6.1. Money and self-interest.............................................................................................................. 68
6.2 The traders. ................................................................................................................................. 70
6.3 .Opinions of people not directly involved in trade...................................................................... 73
6.4. What the international community can do. ................................................................................ 74
CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSION.................................................................................................. 77
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................ 84
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