10/12/2024
In the Western Balkans’ civil society atmosphere one can find numerous initiatives that are often characterized with workshops, field-visits to museums, monuments and religious sites, seminars and other events of similar nature. If one is curious about the topics that these initiatives cover, one can find topics that are related to issues such as youth cooperation, interethnic communication, economic cooperation, research and innovation initiatives, dealing with the past, and so forth. Indeed, all these topics are of interest and certainly contribute to building ties, bridges, and even friendships among youth from the Western Balkans that at some point in history, namely in the past two or three decades, may have been unthinkable given the historical context.
Moreover, while the results of such projects may not always be tangible or easy to see, one can argue that they have reached a success for at least two reasons. First, a network of young activists and researchers has been built, and second, that network will be useful for either of the participants at some point in their professional or personal life. However, while these networks exist and these events take place, one element that is recognized in most of these events is that the common language that is spoken during the discussions has to be English and not the native language of the respective participants. While that cannot be considered a very crucial element in terms of allowing the groups to communicate, one can argue that learning each other’s languages can actually be an additional step in the right direction for enhancing communication. Learning an additional foreign (or in the Western Balkans context – one’s neighbor’s foreign language) can be beneficial because through language learning one learns about other cultures, societal characteristics, history, and even other values and beliefs. With what sometimes becoming overwhelming in the Western Balkans context, such as the slow integration process into the European Union, or the inflammatory political rhetoric, disinformation, and so on, language learning would help participants detach from some daily political events that they are surrounded with and focus on one particular subject, namely learning each other’s languages.
One may argue that there are more pressing issues and topics that need to be covered by such initiatives, which, by the way, it must be mentioned that the champions of facilitating them are the civil society organizations operating in the region. And it is true, there are important topics that cannot and must not be overlooked when it comes to youth communication in the Western Balkans, such as learning and discussing individual perspectives, particularly on historical events. And yes, the economic perspective is something that is of paramount importance because it happens to be the key reason why so many young people from the Western Balkans are leaving the region. However, is it possible to have a two-track – if not multiple –range of topics in these activities? Will the youth in the Western Balkans miss a chance of having a direct chance of communicating while focusing on bigger issues such as the economy, which, sadly, is not always in their hands to solve? That is why language learning could be considered as a fun, focused, and unique activity to open or strengthen means of communication in the Western Balkans, and Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina can be the first testing example for making that happen.
Finally, another important reason why language learning would be important is the need to counter disinformation. As an increasingly emerging threat to the society in the region and beyond, bilingualism, as confirmed in many reports, could be one way to counter disinformation and halt the negative stereotypes that are amplified by enablers of disinformation. While the road to fighting disinformation and enhancing youth cooperation in the region may be long and bumpy, language learning could be a step of good faith that could yield positive results. Most importantly, if such an initiative were to take place, it would be of crucial importance for it to have an inclusive approach – that is, to make sure that also young citizens from rural and marginalized areas are given such an opportunity so that everyone gets a fair shot at helping make our societies progress and live peacefully.
About author:
Jeta Loshaj has an MA Degree in Russian and East European Studies from Indiana University Bloomington and a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Policy and International Relations from RIT Kosova.
Ms. Loshaj currently works as a Programme Manager on Gender Justice at the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Prishtina Office. She has previously interned at the German Parliament and worked as an associate for Kosova at the Council for Inclusive Governance.
Her interests include international relations, focused on Russian influence in the Western Balkans and Kosova’s multi- and bilateral relations with the region, the EU, and the USA – topics on which she has published a few papers and op-eds. Apart from her native Albanian language, Ms. Loshaj speaks English, German and Russian.
Ky shkrim është prodhuar në kuadër të projektit "Programi Rajonal për Demokracinë Lokale në Ballkanin Perëndimor 2 - ReLOaD2", i cili financohet nga Bashkimi Evropian (BE) dhe zbatohet nga Programi i Kombeve të Bashkuara për Zhvillim (UNDP). Përmbajtja e këtij publikimi, si dhe gjetjet e paraqitura në të, janë përgjegjësi e autorit dhe nuk pasqyrojnë domosdoshmërisht pikëpamjet e Bashkimit Evropian (BE) ose Programit të Kombeve të Bashkuara për Zhvillim (UNDP) apo të Qendrës Kosovare për Studime të Sigurisë (QKSS).
