The Discourse of Republic Srpska and the Shaping of the Debate on the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities in Kosovo: Between Perception and Institutional Model

Abstract

The debate surrounding the Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities in Kosovo has become one of the most sensitive political and institutional issues in the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue. Since the Brussels Agreement of 2013 and the Ohrid Agreement of 2023, the Association has generated extensive political, legal, and public controversy regarding its institutional nature, competencies, and potential impact on Kosovo’s sovereignty and state functionality. This paper examines how the discourse surrounding Republika Srpska has shaped political and public perceptions of the Association in Kosovo, while also assessing whether meaningful institutional similarities between the two models actually exist.

The study applies a qualitative research methodology that combines discourse analysis, comparative institutional analysis, and a constructivist theoretical framework. It analyzes political narratives, constitutional interpretations, and international mediation strategies related to the Association, focusing particularly on the concepts of “constructive ambiguity” and “hopeful ambiguity” in the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue process. The paper further examines the legal and institutional framework of the Association through the Brussels Agreement, the 2015 General Principles, the Ohrid Agreement, and the Constitutional Court of Kosovo decision KO130/15.

The findings demonstrate that the debate over the Association extends beyond a purely legal or technical issue and has evolved into a broader discussion concerning sovereignty, ethnic power-sharing, state functionality, and territorial organization in Kosovo. While important constitutional and institutional differences exist between the Association and Republika Srpska, political narratives and collective perceptions have significantly influenced public understanding of the issue. The study concludes that the Association represents not only a mechanism of inter-municipal cooperation but also a symbolic and political issue that reflects competing visions regarding Kosovo’s institutional future and the normalization process with Serbia.