Propaganda and fake news on social media are increasingly shaping public opinion worldwide. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Western Balkans, where nationalist narratives about Kosovo fuel tensions and exacerbate divisions. Bodo Weber, a seasoned analyst of the region, draws parallels between today’s online disinformation campaigns and the war propaganda of the 1990s, warning of the grave consequences such narratives hold for peace and interethnic relations.
Speaking to KoSSev in Berlin, Weber described the manipulation of public discourse through propaganda as a long-standing issue that has transitioned from traditional media to social platforms.
„What is happening now reminds me of the war propaganda of the 1990s,“ he remarked, noting the global rise of nationalism that started in the 1990s and has now gained traction in the West.
Kosovo Propaganda Mirrors the Past
In discussing coverage of Kosovo, Weber underscored the role of propaganda originating from Belgrade. He contends that since 2013, the Serbian government, led by President Aleksandar Vučić, has intentionally employed propaganda to influence public opinion on the Kosovo issue.
„When Vučić first came to power and political dialogue with the West was decisive, there was a clear end goal, which Belgrade accepted at the time – establishing normalized interstate relations between Serbia and Kosovo, culminating in Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo,“ Weber explained.
At that time, following the signing of the Brussels Agreement in 2013, Serbian public opinion was evenly split, with 40% supporting EU integration and 40% prioritizing Kosovo.
However, as the dialogue faltered, Weber observed a regression in Serbia’s discourse.
“By 2017, Vučić began invoking rhetoric about ‘returning with tanks’ and revived traditional propaganda narratives like ‘heavenly Kosovo,’ steering the discourse through talks of land swap and continuing to this day. We see this shift reflected in the relationship and public discourse toward the EU, which has reverted to the nationalist rhetoric of the 1990s—a radical-era mindset and a complete reversal in public opinion trends,“ he said.
Social Media’s Role in Escalation
Weber also pointed to the influence of social media in amplifying hate speech and propaganda, exacerbating tensions in Northern Kosovo. One striking example, he said, involves the behavior of young officers in Kosovo’s special police units who have had no prior interactions with Serbs.
These officers post nationalist symbols and rhetoric on their social media, intensifying ethnic divisions and undermining interethnic relations, Weber stated.
He warned of the „devastating, catastrophic impact“ of such online content, which has fueled physical altercations and heightened tensions in the past three years.
Media’s Role in Polarization
While Weber criticized Serbia’s government-aligned media for inflaming tensions, he acknowledged that media outlets in Pristina also bear responsibility for fanning the flames of interethnic discord.
„Media coverage of the escalations in the North, both by Albanian outlets from Pristina and Serbian outlets—whether based in Belgrade or aligned with Belgrade and the Serbian List in Kosovo—has clearly demonstrated how the proliferation of nationalist narratives fuels renewed hatred among citizens and even leads to physical incidents,“ Weber said.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
