Examining the cycle of violence through the lens of epistemic injustice. The case of Kosovo

Abstract

The present study will concentrate on the case of Kosovo, where the Kosovo-Albanian population endured significant violence from the Serb government during the war in the 90s, with allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. Following the Declaration of Independence in 2008, the government of Kosovo has exhibited indications of reverting to behaviors that have the potential to be considered as dangerous, as they pertain to the minority Serb population of the country. This population has been diminishing in number in recent years, arguably a result of discrimination. Moreover, a decline in fundamental democratic rights including freedom of media and parliamentary plurality have been observed in recent times. The Cycle of Violence, a concept of significant interest in the fields of psychology and peacekeeping politics, posits that victims of physical and psychological abuse or discrimination can perpetuate similar actions against their offspring or other groups. This thesis examines how the perspective of the “other” can be silenced as a result of prejudice, thus perpetuating the cycle of violence, through the theoretical framework of Epistemic Injustice. It will be argued that taking notice of these signs early on can prevent conflict from reappearing in territories like Kosovo.