What We're Reading

July 2020 | Online Extremism: Challenges and Opportunities in the Western Balkans

This month, RESOLVE highlights recommended readings from the latest RESOLVE Policy Note, “Online Extremism: Challenges and Opportunities in the Western Balkans.” In this note, authors Milo Comerford and Simeon Dukic discuss the challenges faced by the Western Balkans from online extremism and address the factors affecting the justification of extremist actions, development of narratives, and the propagation of extremist ideology through online platforms. To enhance the policy note, the authors include suggested readings on regional extremism challenges, country level profiles, and existing regional policy initiatives.

 

On Regional Extremism Challenges

Azinović, Vlado. Regional Report: Understanding Violent Extremism in the Western Balkans. British Council Extremism Research Forum, 2018. https://www.britishcouncil.me/sites/default/files/erf_report_ western_balkans_2018.pdf.

Beslin, Jelena, and Marija Ignjatijevic. Balkan foreign fighters: from Syria to Ukraine. Brussels: European Union Institute for Security Studies, 2017. https://www.iss.europa.eu/sites/default/files/EUISSFiles/ Brief%2020%20Balkan%20foreign%20fighters.pdf.

Morina, Engjellushe, Beatrix Austin, Tim Jan Roetman, and Véronique Dudouet. Community Perspectives on Preventing Violent Extremism: Lessons learned from the Western Balkans. Berlin: Berghof Foundation, 2019. https://www.berghof-foundation.org/fileadmin/redaktion/Publications/Oth… Resources/WB_PVE/CTR_PVE_WesternBalkans_Research_Report.pdf.

Stronski, Paul, and Annie Himes. Russia’s Game in the Balkans. New York: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2019. https://carnegieendowment.org/files/Stronski_Himes_Balkans_ formatted.pdf.

Country Level Profiles

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Understanding Perceptions of Violent Extremism and Foreign Influence. Washington, DC: International Republican Institute, 2018. https://www.iri.org/resource/new-bosniaand-herzegovina-poll-citizens-pe….

Bosnia’s Dangerous Tango: Islam and Nationalism. Sarajevo/Brussels: International Crisis Group, 2013. https://www.crisisgroup.org/europe-central-asia/balkans/bosnia-and-herz….

Kosovo Wide Assessment of Perceptions of Radicalisation at the Community Level. Pristina: Republic of Kosovo, 2017. http://www.ks.undp.org/content/dam/kosovo/docs/PVE/UNDP_KS-Wide%20 Assessment_eng_web.pdf.

Milanović,Boris. “Mapping Extremist Discourse among Serbian 4Chan /pol/ Users.” In Extremism and Violent Extremism in Serbia, 21st Century Manifestations of an Historical Challenge edited by Valery Perry, April 2019.

Qehaja, Florian, and Skender Perteshi. The Unexplored Nexus: Issues of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism in Macedonia, Pristina: Kosovar Centre for Security Studies, 2018. http://www.qkss.org/repository/ docs/Extremism_in_macedonia_402663.pdf.

Shtuni, Adrian. Dynamics of Radicalization and Violent Extremism in Kosovo. Washington D.C.: United States Institute of Peace, Special Report 397, 2016. https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/SR397- Dynamics-of-Radicalization-and-Violent-Extremism-in-Kosovo.pdf.

On Existing Regional Policy Initiatives

European Commission. “European Commission launches Digital Agenda for the Western Balkans.” Press release, June 25, 2018. http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-4242_en.htm.

OSCE. The Role of Civil Society in Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism and Radicalization that Lead to Terrorism: A Guidebook for South-Eastern Europe. Vienna: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), 2018. https://www.osce.org/files/f/documents/2/2/400241_1.pdf.

Regional Cooperation Council. “Initiatives to Prevent/Counter Violent Extremism in South East Europe.” August 9, 2016. https://www.rcc.int/pubs/38/annual-report-of-the-secretary-general-of-t….