Transforming Collective Memory Amongst Feminist Activists in Kosovo and Serbia: a feminist perspective

The paper explores the meanings of peace, security and collective memory from the feminist standpoints and feminist practices in Kosovo and Serbia that have mobilized against the nationalist narratives regarding the 1990s wars in former Yugoslavia. By focusing on the new generation of feminist activists in Kosovo and Serbia—since the cross-border cooperation of these activists remains under-researched—this research endeavors to comprehensively explore the dominant discourses, ideologies, the solidarity they exhibit, and their unwavering commitment to resisting unjust state orders. While the collective memory in both Kosovo and Serbia remains gendered and the contribution of feminist activists for peacebuilding has vanished from the public space and discourse, it has also hampered attempts to open a sincere dialogue among the new generation of feminist activists about peace and security that embeds a feminist approach. Seeking to understand the contemporary feminist activism and cooperation between Kosovo and Serbia, the paper will trace the continuation of feminist articulation of peace, security and collective memory through the intergenerational lens. The research is grounded on qualitative methodology, namely four in-depth semi-structured interviews with feminist scholars, academics, and activists in Kosovo and Serbia on how they conceptualize, deploy, and enact peace and security concepts in their feminist activism and remembrance of the women’s cooperation in the former Yugoslavia. In addition, the paper will use secondary data, such as academic and activist writings on feminism and collective memory in Kosovo and Serbia, to shed light on the feminist voice on peace and security and their engagement in peacebuilding.