Populism in a never ending and multiple system transformation in Kosovo: the case of Vetevendosje

The long lasting democratisation process in Kosovo is being challenged both by the current establishment and antiestablishment parties. The former is not sincere to democracy and stateness principles as a functioning democracy requires, selling themselves to the public through democracy rhetoric, while actually moving in the opposite direction. The latter oppose it sincerely and try to correct it through means that are neither liberal nor democratic , and indeed do nothing more that prepare the terrain for an openly authoritarian regime. This is brought forward by populist tendencies, accommodating themselves within nationalist and leftist political struggles. The paper will look at the populist developments in relationship to the current democratisation process Kosovo is undergoing, with specific focus on the political party Vetevendosje that represents the main proponent of populism in Kosovar party system. It draws analysis of the case study relevant to other contexts, considering how populism is structured within the system and embodied in populist organisation - political party, impacting and being impacted at the national and regional level. In addition, a particular emphasise is placed on populist developments in democratisation and system transformation process, as an added value to usual studies on populism in the consolidated democracies.