Sport and peacebuilding in post-conflict societies: the role of Open Fun Football Schools in Kosovo
| Pages | 145-157 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-07-2018-0369 |
| Date | 27 June 2019 |
| Published date | 27 June 2019 |
| Author | Sanije Krasniqi,Besnik Krasniqi |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Aggression, conflict & peace,Sociology,Gender studies,Gender violence,Political sociology, policy & social change,Social conflicts,War/peace |
Sport and peacebuilding in post-conflict
societies: the role of Open Fun Football
Schools in Kosovo
Sanije Krasniqi and Besnik Krasniqi
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap in the research literature on how sport can be used
more productively as a peacebuilding device in post-conflict countries.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper uses interviewing method that includes both semi-structured
and unstructured interviews with trainers, instructors and children involved in implementing Open Fun
Football Schools (OFFSs) in Kosovo.
Findings –Findings show that OFFSs have played a vital role in peacebuilding in Kosovo by bringing
together people from different ethnic backgrounds in Kosovo, which contributed to social inclusion of
Albanians and Serbs, and other communities by changing their initial attitudes toward one another.
Research limitations/implications –The main research limitation is the usage of semi-structured and
unstructured questionnaires instead of structured questionnaires, which would provide more generalized
conclusions about the OFFSs. More research is needed on this topic to investigate the effect of similar
programs in other country contexts.
Practical implications –The most important practical implication of the research is that conflict mitigation
through football sports programs and activities can be used in other similar contexts by donors and the
international community. OFFSs offer a hope for peacebuilding, and if adequately implemented can
contribute to peacebuilding in post-conflict societies similar to Kosovo’s context. The positive attitude
changes as a result of participation in the OFFS programs shows that these joint programs can promote
better ethnic relations. There is a need for the expansion of such programs to reach more people.
Originality/value –The study provides an original contribution as there has been almost no prior research
which actually measured the effects of OFFSs on change of youth attitudes through the integrated sport
programs with different ethnicity in Kosovo.
Keywords Football, Conflict, Sports, Kosovo, Peacebuilding, Multi-ethnicity
Paper type Research paper
1. Introduction
The use of sport for the purposes of promoting mutual understanding, conflict reconciliation and
co-existence in deeply divided societies has been an increasingly important topic, particularly in
conflict and post-conflict societies (Leitner et al., 2014; Galily et al., 2013; Kertcher, 2012; Lidor
and Blumenstein, 2011; Rookwood, 2008).
The research on the role of sport and particularly football in building peace, although limited,
is becoming even more important as an interventionist tool for sport organizations, donors as
well as policymakers in a variety of countries all over the world. Despite its importance, the
empirical research on the role of sport in peacebuilding remains sparse and largely inconclusive,
as in some countries, football contributes to social harmony while in some others it feeds conflict
(Gasser and Levinsen, 2004; Giulianotti, 2011). On the one hand, sport is viewed as a means to
increase the antagonism between rival groups and may reinforce ethnic division (Majaro-Majesty,
2011). On the other hand, sport can facilitate social inclusion and integration of divided ethnicities
Received 27 July 2018
Revised 18 October 2018
Accepted 19 October 2018
Sanije Krasniqi is Grassroots
Manager at the Football
Federation of Kosova,
Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo.
Besnik Krasniqi is Professor at
the Universiteti i Prishtines,
Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo.
DOI 10.1108/JACPR-07-2018-0369 VOL. 11 NO. 3 2019, pp.145-157, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 1759-6599
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JOURNAL OF AGGRESSION, CONFLICTAND PEACE RESEARCH
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PAGE145
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