Political quotas and ethnic engineering in the Western Balkans

Quotas are an imperfect yet often necessary means for societies to rectify the deficiencies of democratic processes, especially in ethnically or culturally pluralist countries. Although ethnic Albanians held the majority of the seats in the local parliament, the intimidation tactics of the Serbian authorities were successful in pressuring them to vote in favour of the abrogation of Kosovo’s autonomy. If this happens, Srpska Lista – and by extension Belgrade as well – will hold significant sway in Kosovo’s parliament all at the expense of the Bosniak, Roma and Gorani minorities, whose MPs may end up prioritising issues important to the Serb community. As a result, Kosovo’s already fragile ethnic balance could be severely upset, especially since parts of the ethnic Albanian majority are already resentful that so much power is vested in the minority seats. The solution would be to counter Belgrade’s influence and its insistence that participating in the political life of Kosovo – outside its political projects, like Srpska Lista – is a betrayal of the Serbian community.