Exploring Populist Manifestations in the Western Balkans: A Case Study of Albania, Kosovo, and Serbia

In recent years, populist movements have emerged worldwide, typically rejecting traditional political elites and calling for greater control over national sovereignty. While not all populist movements are necessarily nationalist, the rise of radical-right populist parties has redirected scholarly attention to nationalism more broadly and nativism more explicitly in the study of populism. The literature on populism from a comparative perspective highlights the importance of context. Some countries are considered a breeding ground for populism, especially for the radical-right populist parties. Western Balkan countries possess some of the conditions conducive to populism, such as struggles with democratic consolidation, ethnic conflicts, relatively weak institutional structures, and fragmented party systems. However, while we have extensive knowledge of populism across various geographical areas and political systems, little is known about populism in the Western Balkans. This paper investigates the extent to which the political landscape in the region is shaped by populism and the coupling of potential nativist views and nationalist agendas with a populist discourse/rhetoric, especially in recent years after they have presumably achieved some level of consolidation and stability. Using a qualitative method, I analyse populist discourse in election manifestos and electoral speeches throughout the last three parliamentary elections (2013 to 2021) in Albania, Kosovo, and Serbia. Serbia and Kosovo are two countries that have territorial disputes and a painful history of war. The legacy of war and the ongoing tensions between the two countries may be reflected in political party discourse should they decide to mobilize the electorate on identity grounds and ethnic conflict, potentially coupled with a populist discourse and style. On the other hand, Albania represents a country that has obtained a certain level of political stability compared to other countries in the region and where ethnic conflicts are not particularly relevant. Nonetheless, given the close historical and cultural ties to Kosovo as two countries that share the same language and national identity, Albania’s national interests are closely tied to Kosovo’s. However, we do not know to what extent nationalism is salient in political party discourse in Albania and whether it is coupled with a populist discourse or rhetoric. The implications of populism in the region for liberal democracy become even more relevant in these countries’ European membership path.