EX-combatants as civic activists in post-conflict societies: the case of KLA in Kosova

Official URL: http://risc01.sabanciuniv.edu/record=b2297038_ (Table of Contents)

This research explores how ex-combatants can contribute to peacebuilding in post-conflict societies through civic activism. Kosovo Liberation Army’s ex-combatants are selected as a case study. Fifteen semi-structured interviews were conducted with KLA ex-combatants. The data collected from this study reveals that ex-combatants describe themselves as civic activists who contribute to peacebuilding and are enthusiastic about helping their community and post-conflict Kosovo. However, their peacebuilding capacities are limited, firstly, because of the sensitivity and nature of their civic activism and secondly, by their perceptions of what ‘peacebuilding activities’ mean. Some of them argue that peacebuilding activities are ‘morally accepted’ if they are intended to help the community they belong to, that is, solely the Albanian population of Kosovo. Others argue that peacebuilding should not be limited to only one ethnicity. The decision to join the civil society is similar with the decision to join the armed group. The education level of ex-combatants was depicted as an important element that influenced the type of civic activism they are engaged to. Civic activism was not perceived as a potent tool for decision-making changes or peacebuilding incentives. Participants recognize civic activism as an influencer; they argue that the main change and peacebuilding can emerge from the parliament. However, one-third of the participants exclude the chance of involvement in politics for two reasons: because they do not want to take advantage of their combatant lives, and because they think political life is not suitable for their characters. Thus, they choose to remain in areas where they can be more productive.