WESTERN BALKANS THROUGH THE PRISM OF STEREOTYPES, PREJUDICE, AND RELIGION: LESSONS FROM NORTH MACEDONIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, AND KOSOVO

Abstract

Multiple-holistic analysis conducted in the Western Balkans has shown that context(s)
in the Western Balkans are overflowed with stereotypes, prejudice, and religious intolerance. These
three phenomena were included in extensive multiple-holistic case study by conducting interviews
and open-ended surveys among peace activists, journalists, politicians, as well as members of the
civil society, in the countries of North Macedonia, Bosnia and Hercegovina, and Kosovo. The research
findings draw a picture of a still deeply prejudiced and divided societies. People categorize
each other according to their religion and ethnicity. The group they identified themselves with represents
the reference for what is good or bad. Stereotypes and prejudice are deeply rooted in and
transmitted in early childhood experiences, in most cases as a result of family trauma as a consequence
of an earlier conflict. Also, ethnic prejudice are deeply rooted in state systems. Religion in
these contexts plays a crucial but subtle role in designing unstable and divided contexts. It keeps
to its own communities and values through exclusion of the others instead of using its power for
unifying and tolerance purposes. The presence of deeply rooted stereotypes and prejudice create
uncertain societies and uncertainty among people. The conflict contexts in the Western Balkans
require a serious and sustainable strategy for building relationships among people regardless of
their ethnicity and religious affiliation in the long term.