Project Title: DISRUPT: Disinformation, Radicalization, and Unpacking Political Tensions in Kosovo
Donor: Open Information Partnership (OIP)
The DISRUPT project aims to address the impact of disinformation on inter-ethnic relations, particularly focusing on the malicious involvement of the malign state. Disinformation has played a significant role in tensions between Kosovo Albanian and Serbian communities, with historical incidents like the 2004 riots demonstrating its potential effects. The presence of divisive narratives, as revealed by KCSS research, highlights the need to address this issue.
This 8-month long project seeks to achieve four interrelated objectives: 1) Mapping the Disinformation Landscape; 2) Developing Practical Policy Guidance; 3) Facilitating Community Dialogue. The mapping phase will identify the narratives, platforms, and actors—particularly pro-malign state Telegram channels—that contribute to interethnic tensions in Kosovo. The development of practical policy guidance will translate research findings from the mapping phase into recommendations for government, local municipalities, and civil society to counter misleading narratives. The facilitation of community dialogue will aim to enhance collaboration between government, civil society, and other stakeholders in addressing the challenges.
The project’s activities include publishing a report and a policy memo, organizing a Chatham House Roundtable and three municipal roundtables. Beneficiaries will be central and municipal government stakeholders, civil society organizations, media outlets, and grassroots community members. This project will seek to understand how disinformation fosters interethnic tensions and ethno-political radicalisation in Kosovo and develop practical policy solutions that government and civil society can implement. It will do this both by mapping the disinformation landscape and facilitating community dialogue through roundtable discussions.
Project objectives:
The DISRUPT project intends to understand how disinformation fosters inter-ethnic tensions and ethnopolitical radicalization in Kosovo, to develop practical policy solutions that government and civil society can implement. To achieve this goal, the project has four interrelated objectives:
• Objective 1: Map the Disinformation Landscape Conduct qualitative research to identify which narratives, platforms, and actors—especially pro-malign state Telegram channels—most prominently drive interethnic tensions in Kosovo. This will clarify how online disinformation move to real-life disruptions.
• Objective 2: Develop Practical Policy Guidance Translate the research findings into actionable recommendations for government ministries, local municipalities, and civil society organization. These guidelines will suggest ways to strengthen institutional transparency, streamline public communications, and set up rapid-response measures that counter misleading narratives before they escalate.
• Objective 3: Facilitate Community Dialogue Host roundtable discussions in Viti, Prizren, and Mitrovica that bring together local officials, civil society groups, and community members to review real examples of disinformation. During these sessions, participants will work on solutions to counter online disinformation
