First Seminar of SPS "State and Society: Political Identity, Governance and Political Order"

Prishtina School for Political Studies held its first seminar on the topic "State and Society: Political Identity, Governance and Political Order". The seminar was especially focused on the statebuilding process of Kosovo after the formal advancement from UN-administration to the post-supervised independence, also touching upon the role of the international actors and context in this process. During the opening remarks Leonora Kryeziu, PIPS Executive Director, welcomed the new participants, also presenting the Seminar agenda and at the same time Granit Ternava, from Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the supporting foundation of the program, highlighted the importance that Prishtina School for Political Sutdies program has played for representatives of political parties, CSOs, media and public administration, since 2003. Gjylieta Mushkolaj, lecturer at UP, opened the Seminar with a lecture on Council of Europe mainly discussing the importance and process of enshrining its principles in the Kosovo legislation, a process which has already commenced and is currently undergoing. In regards to the Seminar lectures, Adem Beha, lecturer at UP, discussed State as a Fundamental Framework of Political Life, whilst Ermal Hasimja, Professor at UET, discussed the state legitimacy, participation, representativeness and governance. During the second day three lectures were held: Gëzim Visoka, researcher at Dublin City University, discussed International Recognition for Kosovo, both theoretically and empirically; Anton Vukpalaj, Professor at University of Prishtina, discussed Transitional Justice in Kosovo and WB region; and Adri Nurellari discussed the State Government and Governance. The last lecture of the Seminar was held by Krenar Gashi, on Kosovo in the European and Regional Integration, whilst the Seminar was closed with a discussion with representatives of political parties, Memli Krasniqi (PDK) and Hykmete Bajrami (LDK), on Kosovo's state-building process, its challenges and future perspective.