Serbs as threat the extreme negative portrayal of the Serb “minority” in Albanian-language newspapers in Kosovo

Balcanica

卷:2011

关键词: Serbs;    Serbia;    Kosovo;    Albanian media;    critical discourse analysis;    power relations;    discrimination;    master narrative;    intractable conflict;   

DOI  :  10.2298/BALC1142165Z

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Through perpetuating negative stereotypes and rigid dichotomous identities,the media play a significant part in sustaining conflict dynamics in Kosovo.Examining their discourse in terms of ideological production andrepresentations is crucial in order to understand the power relations betweenthe majority and the minority, the identity politics involved in sustainingthem, and the intractability of the conflict. In an effort to provide adeeper understanding of the intractable conflict in Kosovo, and the role ofthe media in protracting it, this study uses critical discourse analysis toexamine articles related to issues affecting the Serb community, published inAlbanian language print media. The master narrative that comes out of theanalysis is that of “threat” - the threat that Kosovo Albanians continue toface from Serbs and Serbia; a threat that is portrayed as historical andconstant. The discourse further strengthens the conflict dynamics ofopposition, polarization and even hatred. This master narrative implies thatSerbs are enemies, to be feared, contested, fought against; conflict is thusthe normal state of affairs. The study also looks at the implications ofmedia discourse for reconciliation efforts and the prospects of the Serbminority in Kosovo society, arguing that when the Other is presented asdangerous and threatening, fear of the Other and a desire to eliminate thethreat, physically and symbolically, become perceived as a “natural”response, and thus constitute a significant conflict-sustaining dynamic.

【 授权许可】

Unknown