Haki Abazi on Why Extremism has Limited Appeal in Kosovo

In an editorial for The Cipher Brief, Haki Abazi, Western Balkans program director, argues that contrary to recent media reports, there is limited reach and appeal for young people in Kosovo to join the Syrian civil war as Islamic State fighters. Although there haven’t been cases of recruitment by extremist groups in the last six months, Abazi notes that factors like high unemployment, a lack of quality education opportunities, and in general, the government’s inability to address citizens' needs in a post-conflict country, can help to explain why a small number of Kosovars had been indoctrinated in the past.

Read the editorial, "Limited Reach and Appeal in Kosovo" at The Cipher Brief (subscription required)