Search

This paper examines the vital importance of infrastructure protection and risk management in the context of the devastating 2023 earthquake in Turkey, which resulted in over 50,000 deaths and left 1.5 million homeless. Highlighting the consequences of inadequate infrastructure and government failure to enforce building standards, the study stresses similar risks in countries like Kosovo and North Macedonia. It argues for enhanced government regulation, improved urban planning, and robust international collaboration in disaster response to better prepare for and mitigate future seismic events. Through a detailed analysis of the Turkey earthquake, the paper provides essential insights into creating more resilient and disaster-ready communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As with all Western Balkans states, Kosovo is an aspiring member-state of the European Union, knocking at the door and trying to align its internal as well as external affairs with those of the European Union, which is easier said than done. This paper will focus on the internal and external levels of preparedness of Kosovo in its aims to integrate into the European Union as a full-fledged member. The paper will cover the most important obstacles in front of Kosovo’s path, as well as its shortcomings which must be addressed in its path to EU integration. The paper will aim to have an encompassing analysis of the preparedness level of Kosovo by looking over its path to independence, the initial steps and agreements made with the European Union, followed by an analysis of the most immediate issues with Serbia which dramatically hinder Kosovo’s path, while also analyzing and understanding the internal preparedness in terms of judicial, bureaucratic, administrative etc. reforms which are and should be undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This applied psychoanalytic paper explores the phenomenon of murder‐suicide in post‐Katrina New Orleans, focusing on the case of Zack Bowen and Addie Hall. The aftermath of natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina often leads to increased mental health issues, including violence and suicide. The author, who lived and practiced psychiatry in the New Orleans French Quarter (FQ), was involved in a documentary about the couple, providing a unique perspective on their tragic story. Zack Bowen, a veteran of Iraq and Kosovo with post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and Addie Hall, an artist with a history of abuse, were star‐crossed lovers in the post‐apocalyptic FQ. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, with the higher socioeconomic population evacuated, the city experienced lawlessness, but also a bond between subcultural groups seeking anarchy, freedom, escapism, and avoidance of past troubles. Drawing from excerpts of the documentary and material from a book about the couple entitled Shake the Devil Off, this paper utilizes an object relational framework to understand the multidetermined causes of the murder‐suicide. It highlights how disasters can bring individuals together in desperate situations, destabilize social connections, and exacerbate avoidant defenses through increased substance abuse. Furthermore, it reveals how such traumatic events can reopen past wounds, including PTSD and experiences of abuse, creating a mental health crisis that extends far beyond the initial impact of the storm. It also underscores the significance of interpersonal containment of toxic projections in the aftermath of a disaster, particularly for individuals with intrapsychic vulnerabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As Kosovo endeavors to meet global standards amidst rapid technological advances and increasing international market demands, its path to sustainable development encounters notable obstacles. This research paper investigates the challenges faced by the Kosovo's business sector, stemming from a significant lack of qualified workforce. This shortage impedes not only competition and business growth but also stifles innovation, adaptation to technological advancements, and overall expansion. This study methodically examines the repercussions of this skills deficit on local enterprises through a detailed statistical data analysis, interviews with business representatives, and an extensive review of prior research. Additionally, it assesses how visa liberalization could influence the local labor market by potentially intensifying brain drain--where skilled individuals might emigrate in search of better opportunities, thereby further depleting local talent pools. The paper proposes targeted recommendations to enhance educational systems, vocational training, and workforce development strategies. These suggestions aim to foster sustainable, innovative, and vigorous economic growth, enabling Kosovo to integrate more effectively into the global economy and harness the advantages of increased labor mobility. This analysis provides critical insights into strategic planning necessary to overcome labor market challenges, crucial for Kosovo's economic and social progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify why and under what circumstances employees prefer to remain silent. The qualitative method was used to understand the reasons for the employees' silence, for which in-depth interviews were conducted. In this paper, 20 employees of the private sector in Kosovo were interviewed. Of the employees who were interviewed, seven of them are from the production sector, five from the service sector, three from the private education sector, and five from the trade sector. The interview data determined codes and categories, which were analyzed using the content analysis method. The data provided by the interview participants were analyzed through the MAXQDA 2020 qualitative data analysis program. Three categories with 21 codes mentioned in 263 cases were identified during data processing. The results show that the employees' fear of the managers and the management's approach is among the main reasons for the employees' silence. In addition, other reasons impacting employees' silence have been identified and presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we provide additional data on the orb-weaver spider fauna (Araneae: Araneidae) of Kosovo. Three species are reported for the first time from this country: Araneus grossus (C.L. Koch, 1844), Argiope lobata (Pallas, 1772) and Cyclosa oculata (Walckenaer, 1802). In consideration of the findings and the updated checklist of Araneidae in this study, the documented number of spider species in Kosovo has now increased to 251. Given that the spider fauna of Kosovo is still not fully explored, our study emphasizes the necessity of ongoing exploration to better comprehend the diversity of spider species within the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research paper brings the analysis on the impact of the digitization of public services in increasing transparency, institutional accountability and citizens' access to digitized public services in Kosovo. Digitization with dynamic developments in the field of technology remains almost surpassed as a concept and approach for the modernization of Public Administration, namely the deployment of public services on digital platforms. Digitization is an extremely complex and demanding process with particular emphasis on societies where the institutional culture is challenged by various problems such as lack of accountability, limited transparency, the presence of corruption, the lack of sustainable economic development, an education system that has not been achieved to adapt to the demands of the labour market as well as the last but not least the importance where disadvantaged groups in all their diversity are recognized and protected by the legal framework but their inclusion in practice is at an unsatisfactory level as a result of not being priority during policy planning and their budgeting. Therefore, it is of scientific interest, but simultaneously for the creation of applicable policies that aim to regulate and improve the access of citizens to public services, and to increase accountability, transparency, and reduce corruption in the Public Administration sector to analyse how and how much through the digitalization of public services, such an increase of the system in the service of citizens is possible, and what does digitalization actually bring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Politics and policy design have always been part of the debate in multi-ethnic societies. In particular, in post-conflict contexts of any state, outlining a language policy that would bring satisfaction to all involved parties has been and continues to be a challenge. Political programs and choices can impact the designing of a certain language policy, while its application has consequences in many dimensions. In the context of minoritymajority relations linguistic policies impact notably the dimensions of education, participation of all minority groups in public life, and preservation of cultural and ethnic identity, among others. Kosovo as a newly formed country has applied a particular model of linguistic accommodation allowing application and preservation of minority languages despite the low percentage thresholds. The model as such is unique in itself as well as advanced in comparison to the regional and wider European practices. Through qualitative analysis, the author will research and assess the framework that ensures the application of bilingualism and multilingualism in Kosovo. In this paper, I will outline the model and conclude that guarantees enshrined within its legal and policy framework have served as a tool for greater integration of minorities in public life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the factors influencing Kosovo's economic growth from 2009 to 2022, specifically investigating the relationship between export, capital formation, consumption, and economic growth using co-integration analysis and the Vector Autoregressive Model (VAR). The findings indicate that exports of goods and services, as well as household consumption, negatively affect economic growth. Conversely, gross capital formation positively impacts economic growth. The study underscores the complexity of economic growth, highlighting the varied significance of different determinants in different contexts. Key findings reveal that while export and gross capital formation are significant contributors to economic growth, household consumption shows an insignificant relationship to GDP. This research contributes to the ongoing debate on the critical factors influencing economic growth, providing empirical evidence from the context of Kosovo and enhancing our understanding of these dynamics, thus offering new insights for policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why are some violent intrastate crises more likely to prompt humanitarian military interventions than others? States appear to intervene robustly in reaction to some internal conflicts, such as Kosovo, but withhold similar options in more intense conflict, as in Darfur. Much of the research on this 'selectivity gap' focuses on universal norms or geopolitical interests. I, however, argue that the selectivity of these interventions is a product of regional variations interacting with conflict perceptions. This paper introduces a dataset of almost 1000 observations of intrastate armed conflict between 1989 and 2014, paired with international military responses and non-responses, as well as an Intervention Index that accounts for the intensity of military interventions. I find that once a threshold of human suffering is met via the existence of an internal armed conflict, powerful states will intervene depending on whether the conflict occurs in the Western sphere of influence and whether it is denoted as an identity war. A Western region coupled with no perceptions of identity-based civil war prompts the greatest odds of humanitarian military intervention. Such conclusions carry implications on the role of norms and interests in international politics, as biased by region, and for military intervention as a policy choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for energy, driven by rapid economic development, necessitates higher electricity consumption. However, conventional energy systems relying on fossil fuels present environmental challenges, prompting a shift towards renewable energy sources. In Kosovo, coal-fired power plants dominate electricity production, highlighting the need for cleaner alternatives. Worldwide efforts are underway to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic systems using sustainable materials, essential for ecological and human health. Solar and wind energy are emerging as sustainable alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. However, global concerns about energy security and environmental sustainability are driving countries to prioritize renewable energy development. In Kosovo, the integration of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar energy, is progressing rapidly. However, challenges such as voltage stability and power losses need to be addressed. Distributed generation offers a solution by increasing energy reliability and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Further research is needed to assess the technical, economic, and environmental implications of integrating renewable resources into Kosovo's energy system, focusing on power quality, system reliability, and voltage stability. The research focused on the eastern region of the country, operating at the 110 kV substation level. Challenges in energy quality arise due to the lack of 400 kV supply and the continuous increase in energy consumption, especially in the Gjilan area. This paper investigated integrating renewable energy, especially wind and solar sources, into the medium- and long-term plans at the Gjilan 5 substation to enhance energy quality in the area. Successful integration requires detailed analysis of energy flows, considering the impact of photovoltaics (PVs) on distribution system operation and stability. To simulate and analyze the effects of renewables on the transmission system, voltage profile, and power losses, a case study was conducted using ETAP software. The simulation results present a comparison between scenarios before and after integrating renewable systems to improve energy quality in the identified area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses challenges inherent in disputes about the reconstruction of built heritage in Kosova, exploring justifications for approval or denial of permits for reconstruction at archaeological sites in the specific political context. To illustrate how standards and principles of conservation, and specifically, of reconstruction, affect decision-making, we present and discuss three sites. Thus, we contribute, through the Kosova experience, to international debate, both empirically and contextually, about the correlation of international standards and principles of conservation and reconstruction, and their impact and perception in the national context. The experience of Kosova shows that adherence to international cultural heritage principles, conventions and policies, within a highly politicized discourse of heritage, is paramount to ensure impartial heritage protection, especially in the rebuilding of ruins. Attempts to build new structures upon old ruins may potentially ignite political, ethnic and religious discord especially in societies where different communities claim heritage ownership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trial in absentia has been an extensively discussed matter in post-war Kosovo and has been criticized due to the fact that the trial in absentia was removed from the Provisional Criminal Code, considering the crimes that were committed in Kosovo, which in some form even risked remaining unpunished. This procedural obstacle precisely resulted in many cases dragging on year after year, and due to the lack of legal foundation, many perpetrators of serious criminal offenses remained entirely unpunished. But procedurally, how can we define a trial in absentia? A trial in absentia means the conduct of criminal proceedings without the presence of the defendant. Consequently, it involves bypassing many procedural stages, as the realization of this trial deprives the defendant of a series of rights, such as the right to submit evidence in criminal proceedings, then the right to challenge evidence and the accusatory act itself, the right to the adversarial proceedings principle, admission of guilt, and the benefits arising from such admission, and so forth. Another important matter is the right to use legal remedy - appeal. These issues will be addressed in this scientific paper, where through the normative method we will be able to reach more precise conclusions regarding legal changes that have occurred, as well as the significance this institute holds today. As noted, the method that will be applied during the treatment of this scientific paper is the normative method: This method is essential to assess laws and legal cases in accordance with specific legal standards and norms. It will be used to assess whether an action is legal or not and to provide interpretation and understanding of laws and legal norms. Other methods that will be used in this paper include statistical methods as a group of techniques used to analyze and interpret data collected from various sources or to make predictions based on existing data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Constitutional Court of Kosovo, envisioned as a cornerstone institution for upholding constitutional order and safeguarding fundamental human rights and freedoms, has assumed a pivotal role in the nation's legal landscape. Since its establishment, it has become a prominent figurehead in addressing claims of constitutional violations, often surpassing the expectations of its drafters and the governing law. This paper aims to delve into the court's transformation and its influence on Kosovo's political landscape, focusing on key cases that have shaped its evolution. It examines the court's pivotal role, the challenges it faces, and its lasting impact on Kosovo's legal and political landscape by analyzing the constitutional provisions and other legal acts that govern the Court's competencies. Additionally, it explores the main court decisions and its practices to illustrate how its work manifests in practice. This paper aims to explore the mechanisms and entities responsible for assessing the constitutionality of legal measures, constitutional amendments, and statutes within the context of Kosovo's legal system. It concludes that the Constitutional Court of Kosovo has emerged as the most influential entity in the institutional landscape of Kosovo. It has assumed the primary role in upholding constitutional order, the rule of law, and democracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study, rooted in historical musicology, adopts a descriptivenarrative approach to shed light on the general history of the Prishtina Symphony Orchestra. It delves into pivotal periods (the years 1950s-70s), which witnessed a concerted effort to foster cultural progress and marked the beginnings of a departure from traditional music paradigms. The City Symphony Orchestra in Prishtina, a precursor to the present Kosovo Philharmonic, underwent multiple transformations, evolving from a military orchestra in the 1940s to the Kosovo Philharmonic in 2000, posing a complex challenge for systematic research. In this paper, the orchestra's history unfolds in three distinct phases: the City Symphony Orchestra in Prishtina (1950-1973); the RTP Symphony Orchestra (1974- 1990); and the Choir and Philharmonic of Kosovo (from 2000 onwards). Thus, this paper offers a comprehensive narrative about the City Symphony Orchestra in Prishtina, emphasizing its pivotal role in fostering cultural development and documenting Kosovo's musical heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the first three articles that appeared in the Agora on Kosovo, this paper argues that there is a right of unilateral secession based on the right of external self-determination. According to the authors, the latter right is applicable outside a colonial context, in limited circumstances resembling the colonial paradigm. Modern customary international law provides the legal basis for a right of “remedial secession”, an argument that is supported by relevant State and institutional practice. After having discussed the conditions of this right and its legal basis, the authors apply their findings to the Kosovo case, in order to answer the question whether the Kosovo Albanians had a right of unilateral secession under international law. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The aim of this study is to reveal the role of internal organizational communication in motivating employees in public service organizations. Data were collected from 249 surveyed employees, in the mobile telecommunications sector in Kosovo, specifically in the Vala mobile company. The collected data was analyzed by using the SPSS system. The study found that information sharing had the greatest effect on employee motivation, followed by employee involvement in decision-making. This paper can be useful for managers and heads to create an organizational culture that promotes both motivation and performance. This paper is unique as it examines the links between organizational communication, motivation, and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trafficking in human beings is a phenomenon of global proportions, which on the one hand violates basic human rights and on the other hand represents a modern form of slavery. This phenomenon is influenced by various factors that are directly related to the level of development of the state, such as the economic situation, poverty, difficult housing conditions, low level of education, sociocultural factors, etc. Trafficking in human beings in Kosovo concerning the number of inhabitants is considered to be high, despite the measures taken by the justice institutions. In this paper, the main focus is based on the analysis of the contribution of justice institutions concerning the criminal offense of trafficking in human beings in Kosovo and the comparability of cases of trafficking during the years 2017-2022. Furthermore, the conclusions of this research emphasize the necessary measures and policies that should be undertaken by the institutions of justice for the prevention and combating of this negative phenomenon at the country level. It also includes the importance of international legal cooperation, public awareness, and protection of victims through institutional channels. Only through inter-institutional cooperation and the raising of social awareness success can be achieved in the combat against this phenomenon, namely to protect basic human rights and freedoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the case law of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo and explains how this court protects the rule of law, as a fundamental constitutional principle and as a human right. The example of Kosovo is intriguing because of the peculiar historical, political and legal backdrop against which the Constitution was drafted, and the constitutional adjudication that has taken place. Methodologically, this analysis is based on a review of the landmark cases when the Constitutional Court of Kosovo reasoned its decisions with reference to the specific constitutional provisions that enshrine the principle of the rule of law. The paper highlights that the Constitutional Court of Kosovo refers to the rule of law as a general normative framework for adjudicating cases of abstract constitutional review, as well as for deciding cases submitted by individuals – mostly in conjunction with the right to a fair and impartial trial. By scrutinizing the cases of Kosovo, this analysis highlights the role of constitutional courts in ensuring that general constitutional principles, such as the rule of law, are justiciable and have practical effect for human rights of individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the resilience of the farmers, which is defined as prudent. The adjective "prudent" stands here for virtue, for the actions that may not always be rational in an economic sense but are prudent from social and cultural sustainability and risk-management points of view. By relying on ethnographic research findings from rural Serbia and Kosovo, the paper argues that prudent resilience is almost always multisectoral, which enables farmers to manage parallel threats, amortize their negative consequences, ensure forward-looking, and at the same time maintain their ethical threshold. Prudent resilience as a virtuous practice cannot be measured, which is a trend imposed by global sustainability agendas. By measuring resilience, there is a danger of perpetuating the image of farmers as victims and not as competent and self-confident managers of risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper women's leadership will be reviewed through the professional biographies of two women who, in the role of director, managed the stage presentation of folk dance and music in Serbia. One of them is Olga Skovran, who laid the foundation of folklore professionalism in Serbia and the region and established the Ensemble "Kolo". She was the Ensemble's general manager from 1948 to 1965. The other woman is Snežana Jovanović, who has been the head of the Folk Dance and Song Ensemble of Kosovo and Metohija "Venac" from Gračanica since 2013. This paper will reflect on the professional positions of these two female figures who worked in historically different times. In addition, special attention will be given to defining leadership within two temporal and spatial dimensions, as well as the competences required for leading a professional ensemble in specific political, economic, artistic, and other conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a historical study of the linguistic landscape (LL) of Pristina's city center as an important site of contestation and competing symbolic identity constructions throughout Kosovo's turbulent interethnic past. By means of historical linguistic evidence of the LL configuration of landmark establishments in the central promenade of the city, the paper illustrates the role of language in the construction of national identity and in this way, argues for the reconciliation of the study of symbolic nation building in Kosovo with language as an equally deserving dimension of investigation alongside other socio-political and social facets It is also argued that apart from its symbolic role to convey the specific ideological concepts of the dominant ethnic elites, the LL has been crucial in the construction of ethnocentric spaces, and has therefore been participatory in the creation of ethnic segregation which is the defining characteristic of Kosovo's post-war ethnic configuration today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Republic of Kosovo is a parliamentary republic that declared its independence on February 17, 2008. Currently, Kosovo is in the stage of institutional, political, and economic development and consolidation, and is strongly advancing toward the Euro-Atlantic integration process. States, in principle, within the domestic power they possess, have the right to regulate the procedures and requirements of acquiring and revoking citizenship, which can be considered as an element and instrument of the exercise of state sovereignty. However, states are generally careful when drafting legislation regarding citizenship to align their legal guidelines with important international instruments. The Council of Europe's Convention on Nationality, along with the Law on Citizenship of Kosovo and those of other states subject to comparison, are the subject of this paper. The new Law on Citizenship (which is currently in force) was approved in 2013. This law defines the modalities of acquisition, loss, and re-acquisition of citizenship of Kosovo and other issues related to citizenship. The main focus of this article is the correct definition and fair implementation of the procedures, criteria and requirements of the modalities for obtaining the citizenship of Kosovo through the Law on Citizenship of Kosovo and other related laws. Such an approach will contribute, no matter how little, in facilitating a fairer execution of the Law on Citizenship of Kosovo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the global landscape, it is exceedingly rare to find a context where the state-building trajectory adeptly merges international intervention with the genuine integration of domestic aspirations, all while maintaining a foundation of robust functionality. This study delves deeply into the internationalized process of constitution crafting and state formation in the Republic of Kosovo. It posits that, notwithstanding the compromises made, the chosen constitutional framework for Kosovo has not only exceeded the initial expectations of its drafters concerning its practical implementation but also underscores values deeply ingrained in the collective consciousness of its people. Moreover, this analysis intricately dissects the linguistic strategies adopted by the drafters of the declaration of independence. Through their deliberate wording, they effectively carved out the unique identity of the nascent state, setting it apart from the international frameworks that had previously overseen its governance in the post-war era. Nevertheless, the paper concludes that the Ahtisaari Plan, which served as the cornerstone for Kosovo's Constitution, has in certain instances transcended its original parameters, asserting precedence over the constitution in decisions rendered by the Constitutional Court. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Labor market is a dynamic and complex dimension that includes lots of segment economic and social life of a country who have their significant impact in the way this entire report functions in harmony with policies and resource requirements for employment and the labor market. Dependence between key segments with the state structure and mechanisms is vital in correctly addressing the needs of the labor market. In this context - the systematic follow up of the dynamics and the demand of the labor market and the tendency to adapt them to the curricula of all educational levels to prepare staff for these needs it is a very effective and correct way drafted public employment policies in the most efficient way, which can create stable and easily measurable results in the labor market, as the involvement of industry/employers in these processes also has it own importance. For this purpose, this paper aims and contains the basic elements of information for specific fields which are evaluated as current trends of the demand that the labor market has in the Republic of Kosovo, but also presents the gapes that the system faces in general as a part of many challenges which the labor market actually has. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provision of services by companies in specific domains requires continuous commitment and a constructive approach to meet customer requirements, however, it is often challenging to determine the level of customer satisfaction without their feedback. Therefore, this paper attempts to provide a solution to this problem by using comments from social networks and evaluating their sentiment using the VADER model. In order to accomplish the aim of our research, a lexicon has been built with more than 9500 adjectives and verbs from the Albanian language based on VADER which is just in the initial form and the sentiments are evaluated as positive, neutral, or negative. The lexicon was constructed for the Albanian language and two companies of the Republic of Kosovo were researched as case studies. Furthermore, the sentiment estimation, using the VADER model, in case of our datasets, we obtained a high accuracy, approximately between 89% and 95%. This level of accuracy has been primarily attributed to the application of all preprocessing steps within the dataset, which significantly enhances the model's performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this research is to find out the effect of green Human Resources Management and employee performance on work-life balance, in small and medium enterprises operating in transition economies, specifically in Kosovo. Additionally, this paper presents a comprehensive conceptual framework for green human resources management and work-life balance. In order to find out this relation, a questionnaire was delivered to employees of small and medium enterprises in Kosovo. The data collected was analyzed using STATA 14. To test the hypothesis, a linear model was constituted, and a regression analysis was conducted using the OLS technique. The model results indicate positive linear correlation between green human resource management, work-life balance, and employee performance, which means that green HRM and employee performance have significant impact on work-life balance of employees in small and medium enterprises in transition countries. This study contributes to practical level, as it provides important information to companies in Kosovo, who should take into consideration the importance of incorporating new green strategies in their human resource practices to facilitate work-life balance for employees, consequently leading to enhance company performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Those who engage in a task of conducting elite interviews in post-conflict societies must prepare for the context-specific challenges of this environment to mitigate the potentially distorting consequences of the process and the substance. This paper discusses the issues and challenges associated with interviewing elites in post-conflict societies. Examples are drawn from the author's own experiences gained through conducting over seventy interviews while collecting data on peace processes in Cyprus and Kosovo. Particularly, the issues of sampling, gaining access, and the process of interviewing are discussed with a focus on the issues of the impact of terminology, the use of recording devices, the researcher's positionality, and the subjective qualities of data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The researcher's goal is to investigate how organizational characteristics affect the process of making ethical decisions. Methods. The study's focus was on certified accountants working in Kosovo during the Covid19 era. The task is qualitative in nature; SPPS is used to process the data after Excel has done so. This study used descriptive and regression analysis. Results. The study demonstrated that organizational criteria like size, industry, the presence of an ethics code, and ethical climate have an impact on how decisions are made. To identify organizational elements and, as a result, improve the ethical decision-making process, the paper's findings may have policy implications. Conclusions. This study provided insight into how to increase the influence of organizational elements in ethical decision-making, particularly in the accounting field. A sound foundation for an ethical decision-making process that is sustainable is provided by the recommendations at the end of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photography records "the cultural inventory" not only of material culture but also of relationships between people. As John Collier Jr. wrote, "the photographic inventory can record not only the range of artifacts in a home but also their relationship to each other, the style of their placement in space, all the aspects that define and express the way in which people use and order their space and possessions" (Collier, John, Jr., and Malcolm Collier. 1986. Visual Anthropology, Photography as a Research Method. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico Press, 45). In this paper the family photography practices among Albanian families in Kosovo will be discussed. The paper will focus on the practices about (a) what they do with photography, (b) what it offers them, (c) how they treat it, (d) how attitudes toward photography have changed through generations, (e) how family photography presents the Kosovar family, (f) intergenerational connection, power and the idea of an ideal family, and so on. I analyze the differences between generations in family photographic practices from 1950 till 2014, and will look into the importance that photography has for family continuity and communion, based on stories collected about the deportation of families and their separation during the 1999 war in Kosovo. How did Albanian people try to hide family photos during that war, and how did their photos survive during it? How are people linked through family photography? What is compensated through photographs? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kosovo on its consolidation process confronts many challenges and difficulties. Local self -government which remains a "Conditio Sine Qua Non" for the integration of ethnic groups, simultaneously strengthens democracy and human rights. This research paper aims to enlighten the importance and impact of the local institutions and mechanisms for the representation, inclusion and resolution of political, ethnic and social problems of ethnic groups. In addition, the paper aims to address the relevance of legal and institutional architecture on defending and strengthening ethnic group's rights, accompanied in Kosovo case, by analysis upon the effect of creation of new municipalities on increasing minority's political representation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mosque had a significant role in all the Muslim community. This religious institution has played a key role in the Albanians since the 14th century when the people accepted Islam and up to the present day. The significant role of the mosque has been reflected through several folkloric works, which serve as a memory for the deeds, worries, and problems of the Albanian people throughout their history. The main goal of this paper is then to put to the fore the image of the mosque on the Albanian folklore at different stages and times. The mosque in Kosovo has been examined from different historical, religious, and geographical perspectives, including the architecture and ornaments – the image by which the mosque is presented on the Albanian folklore, fulfils the current landscape with new data and promotes a deeper understanding of the mosque on its own. In this paper, we understand the role of the mosque in establishing the Islamic identity of Albanians, organization of Albanian society, education, culture, the Albanian state building, protection from national assimilation, and its great resistance during invasion. The results shown have been obtained using a statistical and hermeneutic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy use of residues from agriculture, forestry, and solid waste can foster the transition towards a more renewable energy supply. This paper analyzes the energy potential of the above-mentioned sources for energy applications in Kosovo. The analysis is based on statistical data from different studies and reports, analyzing and calculating them to determine the theoretical and energy biomass potential. Kosovo can increase its self-sufficiency by taking advantage of its rich but under-utilized potential of biomass energy sources. This is a novelty study in this area, considering Kosovo lignite-dominated heat energy and electricity consumption and the available special literature. According to our estimates, the theoretical potential is 6.13 million tons/year, while the biomass energy potential should be around 4.57 million tons/year, including approximately 74.6% of biomass, which can be used for energy needs (heating and electricity). Based on the data and calculations, the available and usable potential shows biomass as an energy source with high potential in Kosovo; its share is very low, but it is reasonable to grow for both environmental and economic reasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses on highlighting the weaknesses and lack of legislation for the electronic notarization of electronic contracts, not only in Kosovo's business field. The idea of electronic notarization is new in Kosovo and is considered a complex task for the regulation of contractual obligations, which condition the modern activities of e-business. The dynamics and dimensions of e-business development strongly influence the change in the techniques of concluding formal contracts at a distance through information technologies. New legislative practices in the modern world are successfully managing to eliminate or reduce these obstacles, which unintentionally complicate and slow down contractual legal relations between business partners. Notary services are no exception to this trend. Despite the positive trend, the legislation in Kosovo seems to be only in its beginnings, and as such it does not enable and guarantee business partners the electronic notarization of contracts, but unfortunately, there is no debate and no concrete initiatives so far. The first phase, which would better regulate this field, concerns the standardization through the validation of these contracts in the territory of Kosovo through criteria that prove and guarantee the accuracy of the contract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the gender representation of the Kosovo Myth by South Slav composers at the turn of the twentieth century in the context of the creation of Serbian and pan-Yugoslav identities. The Kosovo Myth emerged not long after the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, waged between predominantly Serbian forces and the Ottoman Turkish army. However, the event assumed major significance only in the nineteenth century, during which the medieval period became the 'Golden Age' for nationalist aspirations. Held in Serbian collective memory as a fateful defeat that led to the loss of independence, the Battle of Kosovo became the region's 'sacred place'. Drawing from the body of epic poetry, referred to as The Kosovo Cycle, late nineteenth-century South Slav composers relied on male heroes as their subjects, as evident in their choral compositions and local Singspiels. This paper explores the shift from old forms and the 'heroic' male characters to female figures in the Kosovo Myth, as evident in early twentieth-century music. The fictional characters Kosovka devojka [The Maiden of Kosovo] and Majka Jugovića [The Jugović Mother] represented the highest ideal of family values, affirmative of a patriarchal construction of femininity. While both characters offered the South Slav composers a narrative focused on universal family values rather than individual ethnic histories that could facilitate crossing ethnic boundaries, the Jugović Mother emerged as the region's universal inspiration; the choice of a maternal figure rather than a young woman confirms the practice of attributing women, traditionally viewed as inferior to men, a positive value through the concept of motherhood. Extending its scope to female characters outside of The Kosovo Cycle, this paper opens a debate on gender representation in music of the South Slav region beyond the national discourse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many years linguistic studies have been seen started to see in different views. Technological changes, like information and telecommunication are affecting also Albanian language. Our purpose on this paper is to make visible those linguistic development that came from commercial enterprises. In order to be more competitive in Kosovo's market or maybe to be closer with costumers they are using the same language as in advertisings ex. N'ETC krejt iki (you have got all in ETC), Nuk a shefiktu (the boss is not here), O babpo del uji mi tok(hej dad the water is over the ground) etc. Or like it is shown in commercial enterprises. Familjadhemiqt (friends and family).N'trip, Merrebubinhinn'trip( take the puppy in the trip) Ipkonejaoshtknej (the party is here), hej, zog mobile (bird mobile), folshlire (talk free), hej! Eshte cool! (is cool) 4.5 cent, mos e nal me krejt! ( for only 4.5 cent don't stop with all), hej! Evente, hej! (Hej events) Apps. The source for this paper are ads on TV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to explore the impact of Kosovar teachers' characteristics on the performance of fourth-grade students in TIMSS 2019. The paper addressed the characteristics of teachers, demographic, and academics, which are closely related to the overall performance of students. In this research, data from the TIMSS 2019 database were used, for which 4435 Kosovar students were tested, and 192 teachers were surveyed. The findings show that Kosovar students did not perform well in TIMSS 2019. They achieved 444 points in the field of mathematics and 413 points in science (average TIMSS 500 points) and were ranked 49th out of 56 countries participating in the test. Data from the teacher survey show that the characteristics of teachers, such as age, professional development, pre-service education, contemporary approach to teaching, etc., also played an important role in the low-scoring performance of Kosovar students in TIMSS 2019. Students who had a teacher with an average age of 30–60 years had a better performance on the test, achieving a difference of 20 points more, compared to students who had new or older teachers (under 30 years and over 60 years). The lack of professional development of teachers also had a major impact on student performance. On average, 25% of teachers in the last 2 years had attended training in certain areas, while on average 80% of them were willing to attend training programs that would improve the profile of their competencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article highlights the significance of Lëvizja Vetëvendosje's (LVV) left-wing Kosovar Albanian nationalist challenge to the authoritarian and patrimonial nationalist system of Kosovo's rebel victors. LVV used the political settlement's own legitimizing metanarrative – that of Kosovar Albanian nationalism – to bolster their own legitimacy while undermining that of post-war elites drawn from organizations active in the conflict of the 1990s. A methodology based on Discursive Institutionalism makes sense of LVV's position as both a challenger of rebel victors but also as a representative of the same ideological culture that underpins Kosovo's political culture. There are two key contributions here. Empirically, this study characterizes LVV as a nationalist challenge to the rebel victor parties rather than as a distinctively nationalist or a protest party. The second contribution is theoretical: peacebuilding and political settlements theories must take a more dynamic and agency-sensitive view of legitimacy creation than they have hitherto. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Are referendum campaigns involving issues about sovereignty more likely to succeed if framed in a positive rather than a negative way? We ran a survey on a hypothetical referendum on a peace agreement between Serbia and Kosovo to answer this question, and we experimentally simulated both positive and negative frames. We found that the positive campaign frame, i.e. one that contains an invitation to support a lasting peace in the Balkans, economic prosperity, Serbia's path to EU integration, and the protection of the Serbian population and cultural heritage in Kosovo, is more appealing than the negative one, which focuses on avoiding the risk of failure. Our finding contradicts previous works that relied on the prospect theory to argue that negatively framed messages can attract more attention because people try to avoid adverse outcomes. To explain our findings, we argue that positive referendum campaigns are more effective than negative ones when the reference point is low due to attributive framing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scant attention has been paid to the relationship between the perpetration of transnational organized crimes (TOC s) and international crimes. This paper endeavours to instigate increased scrutiny of how these two crime sets interact. Relying on contributions from conflict and peace studies, I argue that it is useful to study their interaction within an international-transnational crime complex. To elaborate, I explore four conflicts in which an international-transnational crime complex is evident: Kosovo, Sierra Leone, northern Uganda, and Syria. Taken together, these cases demonstrate that these crimes types are linked irrespective of geographic location or the type of actors involved. The paper subsequently explores legal responses available to actors, including the International Criminal Court and specialized domestic units, which could link the prosecution and prevention of TOC s and international crimes. The paper concludes with some reflections on the need to further interrogate—in both legal practice and scholarly work—international-transnational crime complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managing a company or organization in today's market is a challenge that each leader has to face. Companies have to adapt and embrace challenges, or they will be left behind by the competitors in the market. The leadership of a company has to be creative in order to fulfill the needs of the customers, the market, and its employees. The same rules apply for language teaching organizations, which have to follow the rapid changes in the field of education, technology and marketing all the same. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to acquire knowledge of key aspects of instructional leadership in private and public schools, to find the parameters that make an organization successful, and to compare key management decisions taken by organizations over the years. In focus of this paper is a case study with two primary schools in Kosovo, one public and one private, how they operate, how are they managed and the possible ways of further development. Interviews with the leaders of the schools have been conducted, and the findings have been compared and supported with contemporary literature review. The paper starts provides an introduction, the literature review, the framework used, an interpretation and critical discussion of the data collected, and it ends with the conclusion on instructional leadership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender-based violence against women is still one of the most worrying facts in Kosovo. This paper examines determinants of women's tolerant attitudes toward gender-based violence against women in Kosovo. An empirical assessment of determinants of tolerance towards domestic violence was conducted by utilizing data from the Kosovo Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) carried out in 2019-2020. The survey was carried out with 5,124 households, drawn from a sample representative of the whole population of Kosovo. The national representative sampling by the MICS survey allows for generalized findings. Economic conditions, lower education level, residence, marital status, and marrying age are important predictors of a higher rate of women's tolerant attitudes toward gender-based violence among women in Kosovo. The study's important findings open new pathways for multi-level design studies including more variables such as social support, family finances management, gender roles in parenting, health situation, institutional responsiveness, and efficacy of institutional interventions to reduce gender-based violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the discursive transformations of the semiotic-linguistic landscapes of Pristina, the capital of Kosovo as brought about by successive sociopolitical transformations and against the reversed power relations of the Albanians and Serbs. The study departs from the underlying assumption that the ethnic Albanian image the cityscape emits today does not coincide with the vision of civic inclusion and multi-ethnicity painted in the Constitution (2008) after the Declaration of Independence (2008). By means of a diachronic examination of successive alterations made to iconic landmark establishments at different political phases in time, it is posited that an appreciation of the contemporary discursive landscape requires an understanding of its dialogic relationship with the past. It is contended that semiotic changes reacted to the past by demarcating barriers that limit access to the previously dominant ethnic other. With reference to the ethnically segregated context of the 1990s in Pristina, attention is brought to the transgressive and invisible dimensions of the landscape for the construction of the city's identity today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses how strategic narratives determine our understanding of politics and justice, and how such narratives can be deliberately constructed to achieve political ends through judicial means and by instrumentalizing international criminal law and courts. The article discusses the concept of strategic narratives from an inter-disciplinary perspective and explores the impact of strategic narratives on international criminal justice. For this purpose, it analyzes as a case study the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Report on "Inhuman treatment of people and illicit trafficking in human organs in Kosovo" of 2011, which led to the establishment of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the Kosovo Specialist Prosecutor's Office. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The collective cultural memory is built on important, often traumatic, historical moments, which are reconstructed in the consciousness of the people by sacralization, transmitted by oral tradition, and maintained by the creation of narratives that consequently become a formative, integrative, and mobilizing factor of collective identity. Strongholds of memory and symbols of collective identity provide permanence and stability to the community in the examples of both Japan and Kosovo*. Although the context of the study of memory is different in the two case studies, the authors find the point of convergence of two seemingly incompatible examples, Japan and Kosovo, in the memory of traumatic events and suffering of both nations through the prism of the culture of memory as a reference theoretical model. Seen through the lenses of social constructivism, the paper aims to answer the question of whether the memory of the nuclear attack tends to change and simplify the Japanese identity, and to explore the potential for the creation of a national myth based on the motives of suffering and sacrifice, as is the case with the Kosovo myth. Also, the research intention is reflected in the determination of the significance, but also the (mis)use of the Kosovo myth in the historical positioning of the Serbian people, both in the construction of our identity and in the creation of distinction in relation to Others. Ontological security, as a learned relationship with Others through the culture of remembering common (in)glorious moments, builds on the existing findings of the general theory of culture by answering the question of why the existence of collective identities through the culture of memory is a topical security issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The educational process undergoes continuous evolution each year. These methods and tools have yielded positive outcomes, complementing the modern teaching practices being implemented in post-war Kosovo. It is noteworthy that our country has dedicated special attention to the field of education, actively seeking the best teaching methods that effectively bridge theory and practice. Consequently, the purpose of this research is to analyze the influence of auditory tools on the recognition of new vocabulary during English language classes. Additionally, this paper sheds light on the impact of auditory tools in motivating students to enhance their English vocabulary. This small-scale research employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. The qualitative approach involved ten English language teachers, while the quantitative method encompassed one hundred students. The Likert scale was utilized, consisting of ten questions, to gather responses from fifth-grade students. The researcher aimed to include both high and low English proficiency students to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the results regarding the use of auditory tools for English vocabulary acquisition. In conclusion, the final results indicate that English teachers utilize auditory tools to teach English vocabulary to a certain extent, highlighting the need for increased investment in supplying the targeted schools with such tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores how group preferences develop among children living in the post-conflict context of Kosovo and how this development shapes children's willingness to be close to their outgroup peers among the segregated majority (ethnic Albanian) and minority (ethnic Serb) members. The study was conducted in four ethnically divided primary schools, with 220 participants aged 6–10. Children played a series of games and tasks which measured ethnic ingroup preference, preference for the Kosovar flag, and willingness to be close to ethnic outgroup children. Children in this context where a new national Kosovar identity is developing following independence display very high ethnic ingroup preferences. Kosovar Serb children showed low willingness to engage with outgroup members and remained constant with age, while Kosovar Albanian children's willingness to engage with the outgroup was present among younger children but diminished with age. Results add to the literature on the underlying process by which identity develops among segregated majority and minority who have little or no opportunities to interact. Lack of intergroup contact hinders the development of more positive intergroup relations. To build a peaceful coexistence, programs which connect the segregated schools and facilitate intergroup contact, especially among the younger age groups, are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to research data on the psychological contract which in our country are almost unknown; provide suggestions emphasizing the importance of psychological contracts and fill the managerial and legal gaps faced by Kosovar organizations due to lack of information on psychological contracts. The paper is focused on determining the importance and role of psychological contracts in the formation of positive organizational relationships and maintaining the desired level of work, positive attitudes towards the work of employees in the business sector, etc. The paper provides knowledge and guidance to organizations on how to manage psychological contracts and pave the way for practical research of these contracts to local businesses. The paper presents a contribution to answering a number of questions on the economic value of the psychological contract between employees and management in Kosovo organizations based on the literature reviewed. Also, based on the studies conducted, our conceptual research emphasizes the importance of psychological contract in organizational behavior and the benefits that psychological contract brings to organizations. The paper itself represents originality and value for researchers, organizations in Kosovo and for later studies of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]