Trading with the enemy in Mitrovica, Kosovo. - RUhosting

1.4. Thesis organisation - Short outline of research.
This thesis has 7 chapters. This first chapter functions as an introduction. Chapter 2 will discuss the research
methods: how and how many people were interviewed and on which scientific basis. It will also discuss how
other information was gathered in the field. Chapter 3 will discuss theoretical arguments for the hypothesis
that trade can improve inter-ethnic relations, these theories will be drawn political science, human geography
and conflict studies to predict effects that could be happening in Mitrovica. Chapters 4 & 5 discus the context
of inter-ethnic relations and trade in Kosovo. For this, material will be used from interviews, field notes and
literature. It will focus on how relations between Albanians and Serbs have developed over the past 20 years
to reach the point where they are now. These chapters also discuss the influence of the economy and politics
on inter-ethnic relations and trade, societal rules regarding inter-ethnic contact and trade and the lack of
effect of reconciliation programmes so far. Finally these chapters will discuss how people have adapted to
the lawless border zone that is Mitrovica: how and why trade is happening exactly there. Chapter 6 will
discuss the opinions of experts. People who are in the business of inter-ethnic trade, who have experience
with it or have special knowledge about it, as well as people who have a lot of experience dealing with interethnic
relations – for example by working in reconciliation programmes for years – were interviewed for this
purpose. Chapter 7 will offer the conclusion to this thesis and research.
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