Focus Group on Political Extremism – Reflections and Open Discussion at KCSS

On July 21st, 2025, the Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS) organized a dynamic focus group at its offices in Prishtina, as part of the international research project OppAttune, funded by the Horizon Europe programme. The aim of this session was to explore how citizens in Kosovo perceive political extremism, manipulation in public discourse, and the space for democratic dialogue in an increasingly polarized environment.

The event brought together participants from various fields, including civil society activists, youth representatives, academics, and citizens with lived experience in political and social engagement.

📌 The discussion covered several key topics:

• Where does political extremism begin and how is it expressed?
• How is manipulation perceived and what is the role of media?
• In what ways is hate speech normalized in political discourse?
• What challenges do women face in politics, and how are gender biases manifested?
• Is there potential for constructive dialogue between political opponents?

Held in a safe and inclusive environment, the session fostered open exchange and encouraged participants to share experiences and insights. All contributions were gathered anonymously and with full respect for trauma sensitivity and gender awareness.

KCSS expresses its sincere gratitude to all contributors for their valuable input. The insights gathered during this session will feed into further research and advocacy efforts aimed at promoting inclusive, respectful, and evidence-based political dialogue in Kosovo and beyond.

OppAttune is a Horizon-Europe funded project involving 17 partners across Europe and beyond which aims to develop an innovative Attunement Model which will track, attune, and limit the spread of extreme political narratives. Co-Funded by the European Union with Grant Agreement No. 101095170.