This summer I had the opportunity to spend two months in Prishtina, Kosovo conducting research with Professor Summer Forester. Our research question seeks to address the impact conflict has had on feminist mobilization in Kosovo.
My interest in this research topic grew from many different corners of my academic as well as personal life. For a while, I have had a deep interest in understanding why conflict happens, and what can be done to prevent and resolve conflict, this grew from my personal connection to Israel/Palestine and the family I have who lives there. In Spring 2023 I participated in the political science OCS, (Beyond) Nationalism and Xenophobia in Eastern and Central Europe. This was my first time learning about the Balkan countries and understanding their rich history as well as long struggles of nationalism and regional conflict. On a trip to Belgrade, Serbia I noticed a large sign that read: “Serbia without Kosovo is like a human without a heart”. I was completely caught off guard with this poster and did not know much about the tumultuous relationship between Serbia and Kosovo. This poster sparked an interest in learning more about the conflict, specifically how women were impacted by it. Lastly, while taking political science courses I learned about feminist international relations, an intersection I previously did not know existed. As someone who considers themselves a feminist, having an entire theory within my discipline that recognizes women’s role in global politics, really excited me. Understanding the intersection of women in war, conflict, and peace building was an area I became very interested in. After speaking with Professor Forester about her own research and interests it was clear that I wanted to explore how feminist movements mobilized and organized following times of conflict, and I was curious to go back to the Balkans and learn more about feminist mobilization within that context. Out of these interests my research with Professor Forester began to slowly come together.
Our research project seeks to understand how conflict affects feminist mobilization in Kosovo. War is a precarious time and the aftermath of war and conflict can lead to societies completely rebuilding and reshaping their norms, laws, and practices. Our project expands Professor Forester’s previous research, as well as other scholarly work, that shows how conflict can create surprising opportunities for women to gain more rights. Although rights gained may not always be permanent, our work in Kosovo sought to understand how women mobilized. During the summer, with the generous help of the Humanities Center and Provost office, I got to travel to Kosovo. First I completed an internship at a local feminist NGO and then stayed longer to conduct our research. I had the opportunity to speak to women from all different backgrounds who have been involved in the feminist movement in one way or another. Whether these women were activists, academics, policy makers, or bureaucrats, they all had a lot to say about how the feminist movement has changed and what feminist mobilization has looked like following the conflict. It was inspiring speaking and interviewing these women about their own hardships and experiences mobilizing for the feminist movements. I heard about the biggest challenges they faced and continue to face when advocating for women’s rights. These conversations allowed me to begin to understand the work of Kosovar feminists and the progress as well as struggles they face. I am so grateful for this experience and look forward to publishing our research in the near future!