MAPPING REGIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS/NETWORKS AS MEANS OF REGIONAL COOPERATION IN RECONCILIATION: THE CASE OF WESTERN BALKANS

Abstract

Based on the context of the armed conflicts in the 1990s and persistent post-conflictual issues among the Western Balkans, this study focuses on the involvement of regional civil society organizations and/or networks (RCSO/Ns) in the reconciliation process. In particular, the research maps the role of RCSO/Ns in advancing and promoting reconciliation across the region. To comprehend this role, the work employs existing indicators and categorizes them in accordance with its three main sub-questions. These sub-questions, that guide the piece, include: i) What is the approach of RCSO/Ns towards reconciliation? ii) What are the capacities of these actors to act? iii) What is their work in the field of reconciliation? In such manner, this mixed-methods research explores how civil society contributes to transformative processes in these post-conflict societies. Furthermore, it seeks to investigate the outcomes and challenges of RCSO/Ns on reconciliation, and provide comparisons between these actors’ experiences. The findings of this research work support scholarly knowledge and provide useful practical implications in regional reconciliation efforts across the Western Balkans.