Populist patterns in post-conflict settlement: leadership discursive strategies in the Serbia-Kosovo status dispute

This paper investigates the role of the Kosovo issue in the rise of populism in Serbia and Kosovo, focusing on how unresolved status disputes since Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence have fuelled populist narratives. Utilizing Paul Taggart’s framework for analyzing populism, the study examines political speeches, media statements and declarations by leaders like Aleksandar Vučić and Albin Kurti to understand how they leverage nationalistic and post-conflict themes to legitimize their power and reinforce elite-mass divides. The findings reveal that both leaders use the ‘normalization of relations’ discourse not for genuine reconciliation but to bolster populist strategies and maintain political dominance. This study contributes to the theoretical literature on populism by demonstrating how post-conflict narratives can perpetuate cleavages and legitimize authority in transitional societies, offering broader insights into the challenges of fostering political stability in the post-war era.