Trading with the enemy in Mitrovica, Kosovo. - RUhosting

majority of Albanian and Serbian locals were the same: with a better economy there would be less inter-
ethnic issues (respondent #2, #12, #15, #16, #17). Furthermore, a better economic development would
improve inter-ethnic relations. It would relax tensions and when people have jobs they are less likely to be
frustrated and become radical, also they would care less about political issues. “The economic situation helps
improve relations by itself. People focus on money instead of politics” (respondent #17). Respondent #2 and
#12 saw a link between unemployment and rioters.“Employing people would keep them from going out on
the street and demonstrate, it will entice them to participate in society, and it will make them consumers”
(respondent #12). Both an Albanian and a Serb from Mitrovica put this into connection with the news: If you
have a job, you don't have time to watch the news and watching the news makes you radical (respondent #2
& #17). Respondent #2 added that ethnic issues started in Yugoslavia when its economy started collapsing.
He did probably not know that the former Yugoslavia is a classic example in conflict studies about the effects
of a failing economy on the chances of conflict.
There is much scientific literature on the link between a poor economy and the occurrence of conflict
(compare Cramer, 2006 and Collier, 2007). A better economy might have other, more indirect effects as well
on increasing contact and improving relations of Albanians and Serbs. One respondent noted that a better
economic situation in Kosovo would increase (economic) contact because it would also increase the interest
of Serbs in working with Albanians, since there would be more to gain (respondent #15). On IDP returns, the
most important factor for its sustainability is economic development as well, several people noted. You
cannot just send people back and expect them to stay if there are no jobs for them there (respondent #12).
“The sustainability of return is inevitably linked to the broader question of the growth of economic activity in
Kosovo...There is no use in providing safe transport routes or houses when there are simply no jobs
available” (respondent #11). Also, when there are no jobs returnees could be seen as a threat to the already
present population because they decrease their chances of getting a job.
5.4 Opposite politics striving for either integration or disintegration.
Kosovo is known for its ethnic conflict between Albanians and Serbs, but this would not be an accurate
description. In essence it is a political conflict over territory fought out across ethnic group lines. Albanians
and Serbs have opposite political goals: they both claim the territory of Kosovo. K-Albanians want it to be
an independent state where they are the majority and therefore will have power over its territory. Serbs want
Kosovo to be a part of Serbia so they are the majority and therefore have power over Kosovo's territory.
People can talk about the history, the myths, the oppression, the suffering, but in the end the root, the core of
this entire conflict is this political issue. This “root” is probably even responsible for the history, the myths,
the oppression and the suffering. I'd like to illustrate it with another example from Mitrovica, from CARE's
research.
59