Women’s Activism in the Civil Resistance Movement in Kosovo (1989–1997): Characteristics, Development, Encounters

Abstract

This article analyzes women’s socio-political participation and activism within the nonviolent civil resistance movement in prewar Kosovo between 1989 and 1997, as well as the movement’s gender dynamics. This Albanian-led resistance movement emerged during the early 1990s with the principal goal of building a parallel state, seeking independence from Serbia, and offering means of survival for the population. This project required the participation of all Albanian citizens, and although the participation of women was massive, this has gone largely unrecognized. This article will explore the principal features of women’s participation and activism within this movement, what kind of gendered dynamics were developed, and the principal forms of resistance they encountered against their full and active participation through an analysis of women’s activism both within the Women’s Forum of the Democratic League of Kosovo and within independent women’s organizations.

Feminists, Nationalist, Combatants, Activists. A Conversation with Vjosa Musliu on the Multi-Faceted Role of Women in Kosovo

“…At the core of these activists were women activists such as Sabile Keçmezi Basha. The works of Eli Krasniqi (Krasniqi 2011(Krasniqi , 2021 and Itziar Mujika Chao (2020) have shed quite some light on the indispensable role of women in these movements. These groups evolved in their political objectives throughout time -with nationalism always at the core -whereas in the 1980s they directed their efforts in advancing women's rights in the 1980s (Krasniqi 2011), and some of these groups went on to spearhead the founding of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) after 1989 (Krasniqi 2021).…”

Protests in Postwar Societies: Grievances and Contentious Collective Action in Kosovo

“…Facing the loss of status, Albanians chose a strategy of pursuing independence by nonviolent civil resistance, in which participants did not use weapons or cause bodily harm to the opponents (Clark 2000). The nonviolent resistance movement mobilized the participation of the vast majority of Albanians in Kosovo, including women (Chao 2020). By 1992, the parallel state institutions of Kosovo Albanians under the leadership of Ibrahim Rugova halted demonstrations, fearing further violent repression.…”

An Exploratory Study of Gender Role Stress and Psychological Distress of Women in Kosovo

“…65 Instead, women in Kosovo have shown social and political agency throughout nonviolent resistance in the prewar period and the postwar reconstruction and peacebuilding processes. 66,67 However, their roles and participation have been silenced and diminished (p.212). 67 Women are underrepresented in municipal assemblies and parliament at the decision-making levels among police, prosecutors, and judges.…”