THE BALKANS,

ISLAM AT THE DOORSTEPS OF EUROPE: TIRANA, ALBANIA

NEW EXTREMIST ORGANIZATIONS POSE A THREAT TO STABILITY IN THE REGION?

LEGALIZING NEW RADICAL ISLAMIC MOVEMENTS POLITICALLY AND SOCIALLY MAY REIGN IN THEIR EXTREMIST TENDENCIES IN THE BALKANS.

Emerging extremist organizations in the BALKANS are operating alongside existing extremist groups and may try to change the political and legal framework to fit their agendas.

The "new extremism" in the BALKANS embodies religion, ethnicity and neo-Nazism, best exemplified by GREECE'S Golden Dawn. 

Background Information: Read 6 PART DOSSIER ON WAHHABISM IN BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA at: http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/07/wahhabism-in-bosnia-herzegovina.html

Whether new or traditional, extremist organizations are proactive in promoting their agendas, or are reactive in seeking political opportunities. Organizations representing extremist ideologies have been increasing their activities globally, as well as in the BALKANS. The means by which they conduct their activities have changed since utilizing modern communications channels.

Background Information: Read EXTREMISTS ESTABLISH FOOTHOLD IN THE BALKANS at:  http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/kosovo.html

NEW ISLAMIC MOVEMENTS IN KOSOVO

such as Bashkohu, Forumi and Paqja Studentore are not a direct threat to KOSOVO'S stability for now, but could be if they become increasingly politically active, and grasp the chance to infiltrate local politics in a more decisive way. Thus governments and citizens should be increasingly vigilant and cautious of such developments.Non-inclusion [in the political processes] is apparently counterproductive for the democratic process, thus it is important to give them a chance within a legal framework. Anything out of the legal framework is harmful and dangerous for EUROPE. 

Alleged Islamic movement in the Balkans

New extremist organizations have not become key protagonists due to the huge international presence in the BALKANS, which has prevented conflict, as well as denied such organizations the basis for widespread violence. This could change though if extremist organizations manage to convince citizens that they are focused on solving problems and not just selling nationalist rhetoric and that they will not become key players in shaping the political developments.

In order to change and influence life in their respective countries, these organizations will have to change and move closer to the center stage in order to be able to become protagonists in the political life. (See Hezbollah in LEBANON) 

IN ALBANIA, the ARAB Spring revived Islamic movements, and the Muslim Brotherhood model is applied in the country and the region, the impact of which reflects through academic programs, business and religion as well as politics. Lack of state authority, coupled with widespread corruption and weakening of state structures as a result of the economic crisis, have affected the region's ability to stop Islamic movements' growth. 

Background Information: Read KOSOVO “ALBANITY” at: http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/greater-albania-united-states-project.html

"TRADITIONAL EXTREMISTS" HAVE TRANSFORMED AND ARE NOW IN POWER

In KOSOVO, former Kosovo Liberation Army guerrillas (UCK) are running the government, while an offshoot of the group in MACEDONIA is now part of the governing coalition. In SERBIA, politicians who formerly supported radicalism, such as recently reformed Radical Party members, are also in power. These old traditional extremist organizations still thrive but are now transformed. Their activity continued and their influence has increased, thus the environment in which they are currently operating throughout the region still remains a fertile ground for extremist ideologies and organizations, whose main target are the youth in the region, which lack future prospects and work.

Background Information: Read HOW RADICAL ISLAM INFILTRATES KOSOVO at: http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2012/10/kosovo-and-radical-islam.html

Traditional ethno-nationalism and chauvinism expressed through aggressive claims for territorial aggrandizement, redrawing borders and ethnic cleansing, are still ever present in the region.

Traditional extremism recovered from its comatose state due to lack of tangible International Community prospects across the Western Balkans, thus it comes of no surprise that there is a tendency by major political players to use nationalist-chauvinist rhetoric in election campaigning. The result of which is a negative spillover effect which extends to smaller extremist actors who, at the end of the day, feel empowered.

GOLDEN DAWN IN GREECE

Neo Nazi Golden Dawn Party of Greece

A notable exception is the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn in Greece, which holds 18 seats in parliament and whose popularity is rising. In times of severe economic downturn, the electorate may be turning toward quick-fix solutions. In such an environment, political actors like Golden Dawn, but others as well, promote a ethnically and religiously charged rhetoric and undertake campaigns of violence. With 18 seats in parliament and rising support, extremism of this kind must be tackled throughout the GREEK institutions by sending a clear message that there is no place for such activities in GREEK society.

In SERBIA, extreme right groups have been present in the political arena since the beginning of the 1990s, but state institutions either cannot or do not want to confront them. This inevitably leads to the further rise of right-wing extremism.

Right-wing extremism in SERBIA today shares the basic characteristics of the EUROPEAN radical right, but it also has elements that are a result of the socio-political crisis and ethnic conflicts in former YUGOSLAVIA during the 1990s. Numerous factors contributed to the rise of the extreme right, such as nationalist discourse and the so-called normalization of nationalism, historical revisionism, the state-church relationship and, above all, weak state institutions and lack of rule of law.

CURRENT EUROPEAN POLITICAL LANDSCAPE - PREDOMINANTLY CENTER RIGHT GOVERNMENTS

PROMINENT RIGHT-WING ORGANIZATIONS IN SERBIA

Some of the most prominent right-wing organizations in SERBIA are Obraz, Nacionalni stroj, Dveri and SNP Nasi 1389. The constitutional court has banned Obraz and Nacionalni stroj, but the other two are recognized by the state as legitimate political actors and participate in local governments.

Analysts agree some of the old extremist organizations active in the 1990s are not necessarily active today, but their ideology still exerts influence.

Extreme right organizations represent a serious threat to human rights and democracy because of their continual involvement in violence. Their impact is best reflected in the manner in which state institutions perceive and treat them. Criminal proceedings against members of these organizations are extremely slow and inefficient, and politicians avoid openly condemning right-wing extremism; some of them collaborate with extreme right organizations on the local level.

Background Information: Read INTERCONNECTION BETWEEN OC AND TERRORISM at: http://geopoliticsrst.blogspot.com.ar/2013/01/the-balkans-organized-crime-and.html

Similarly, the impact of new extremist organizations is systemic and significant, requiring governments to better respond to issues in smaller communities where there is a greater likelihood the extremists will engage in violence. Extremist organizations are much more flexible and adaptable now, and it is more difficult for BALKAN states to react and reform because of a multitude of rules and procedures.

Original article by Linda Karadaku, via  Southeast European Times, edited by Geopolitical Analysis and Monitoring