Leadership Narratives as Divergent Framing of Conflict: A Discourse Analysis of Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue

This chapter focuses on Discourse Analysis as a micro study of political culture and conflict resolution in a specific context (that of relations between Kosovo and Serbia). The concept of political culture is highly complex and multi-layered. Its dynamic nature makes its effect on politics nebulous, especially as a means of resolution of conflict. The focus of this article is on political leader discourses against the background of the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia, under the mediation of the European Union. We analyse recent speeches by the political leaders of both countries to see how speaker mentality influences the conflict resolution process. We show how complex hitherto irreconcilable issues are concretely represented and framed in two speeches each by the leaders of Serbia (President Vučić) and Kosovo (Prime Minister Kurti) at two international events, respectively, the 78th session of the UN General Assembly of the United Nations in New York (September 2023), and the Pace Samite Forum, in Paris (November 2023), and attempt to deconstruct their strategies, aims and purposes.