Political Islam and Islamism in the Western Balkans

This chapter examines main elements of political Islam and Islamism in the Western Balkans and explains how they play out in different countries of the region. Apart from domestic radicalisation through well-organised networks, NGOs, para-jamaats and other out-of-sight objects, the opportunity presents itself in education abroad, where young people from the region are introduced to alternative interpretations of Islam. In BiH and North Macedonia, Islam remains an important element of identity formation, whereas religious tolerance in Albania and Kosovo prevents Islam from resonating strongly with the political establishment. The chapter advocates for a systematic approach by all actors, including political leaders and heads of Islamic communities as a necessary mean to timely address radical occurrences, particularly in countries where identification along ethno-religious lines runs high.