‘The rifle has the devil inside’ Gun Culture in South Eastern Europe South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons ISBN 86-7728-019-2 9 7 8 8 6 7 7 2 8 0 1 9 2 SEESAC Internacionalnih Brigada 56, 11 000 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Tel. (+381) (11) 344 6353 / Fax. (+381) (11) 344 6356 Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons URL: www.seesac.org / Email: [email protected] ‘The rifle has the devil inside’ Gun Culture in South Eastern Europe (2006-06-15) The South Eastern and Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SEESAC) has a mandate from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Stability Pact for South East Europe (SCSP) to further support all international and national stakeholders by strengthening national and regional capacity to control and reduce the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons, and thus contribute to enhanced stability, security and development in South Eastern and Eastern Europe. For further information contact: Head, SEESAC Internacionalnih Brigada 56 11000 Belgrade Serbia and Montenegro Tel: (+381) (11) 344 6353 Fax: (+381) (11) 344 6356 www.seesac.org ‘The rifle has the devil inside,’ Gun Culture in South Eastern Europe, SEESAC, May 2006 This report was initially researched by the Centre for the Study of Democracy (CSD), Bulgaria during Autumn 2005 and Spring 2006. It was compiled and drafted by Philip Gounev, Research Fellow, Centre for the Study of Democracy, Bulgaria and Marko Hajdinjak, Researcher, International Centre for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations, Bulgaria. The following researchers contributed parts of the report: Antonija Zhelyazkova, Director, International Centre for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations, Bulgaria; Antonija Petricusic, Research Fellow, Institute for International Relations, Croatia; Cibotaru Viorel, Program Director, Institute for Public Policy, Moldova; Elton Skendaj, Executive Director, Centre for Peace and Disarmament Education, Albania; Toni Petkovic, Psychologist, Novi Sad Humanitarian Centre, Serbia and Montenegro; Zhidas Daskalovski, Program Director, Centre for Research and Policy Making, Macedonia. Further research and drafting was conducted by Janosch Witte, Anya Hart Dyke and Jessie Crawford and the report was project managed and copy-edited by Adrian Wilkinson, SEESAC. SEESAC 2006 – All rights reserved ISBN: 86-7728-019-2 The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme or the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme or the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe concerning 1) the legal status of any country, territory or area, or of its authorities or armed groups; or 2) concerning the delineation of its frontiers or boundaries. ‘The rifle has the devil inside’ Gun Culture in South Eastern Europe (2006-06-15) Acronyms and abbreviations BiH Bosnia and Herzegovina BICC Bonn International Centre for Conversion CSD Centre for the Study of Democracy DPA Democratic Party of Albanians ENA Environmental National Agency FBiH Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina HFS Hunters and Fishermen Society HHS Household Survey IMIR International Centre for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations IMRO Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization KPC Kosovo Protection Corps KPS Kosovo Police Service LCESFA Law on the Control of Explosive Substances, Firearms and Ammunition MoD Ministry of Defence OCG Organized Criminal Groups OHR Office of the High Representative PSC Private Security Company PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder SALW Small Arms and Light Weapons SEE South Eastern Europe SEESAC South Eastern Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of SALW UNODC UN Office on Drugs and Crime VMRO-DPMNE Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party of the Macedonian National Unity WRC Weapons Registration Cards WWI World War I WWII World War II i ‘The rifle has the devil inside’ Gun Culture in South Eastern Europe (2006-06-15) Executive Summary SALW control stakeholders and practitioners within South Eastern Europe (SEE) are often told that weapon registration and collection programmes are ineffective because guns are an intrinsic part of ‘cultures’ in the region. In addition, international and local observers often explain high levels of gun ownership and use in SEE by stating there is a strong ‘gun culture’. In contrast, survey results on the public’s perception of guns, suggest that ‘culture’ and ‘tradition’ are not principal reasons for gun ownership in the region. Thus, it is a matter of continued debate to what extent and which types of gun ownership and use are rendered acceptable and legitimate by certain cultural beliefs and practices. This report examines how cultural beliefs and practices influence gun ownership and use in SEE, and how these might affect SALW control interventions. An anthropological approach was taken to better understand the reasons for civilian gun ownership and use, and the ways in which society represents these behaviours, in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Serbia and Montenegro (including the UN Administered Territory of Kosovo). A wide variety of research tools were used including household surveys (HHS) conducted by SEESAC and UNDP, focus group transcripts, secondary literature searches, statistical data, anthropological field studies, the Internet, print and electronic media. The report concludes that the motivations and reasons for gun ownership and use in SEE are complex and suggests that cultural practices and beliefs do not play a central role in justifying gun ownership and use in SEE. There are pockets of culturally motivated gun related behaviours, in very localised areas, which have historical roots, such as celebratory gunfire in the mountainous areas of the peninsula (parts of Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Northern Albania). However, more important are the ways that ‘traditional’ customs and values have interplayed with other factors such as the political or socio-economic situation, or the 1990s conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. People’s behaviours involving guns, and their perceptions of guns, are more to do with the relatively widespread availability of weapons, weak and ineffective law enforcement and the reinvention of history and folklore for political means. Over the years guns have been associated with masculinity and have been a means of defining male attributes but they are not so significant now for ideas of masculinity although gun related activities remain male-oriented. The way guns are represented today, and how society perceives them is largely influenced by the media and how it portrays gun owners and gun use, especially the actions of high profile organizations or individuals who are associated with guns, such as the police, politicians and prominent businesspeople. In general, ‘traditional’ and ‘cultural’ motivations for gun ownership and use in SEE are unlikely to be the principal barriers to SALW control interventions. Security considerations are much more likely to play a significant role with many people unwilling to give up their weapons, which they perceive as providers of security and protection, until they are satisfied that the state can be trusted to provide for their needs. Whilst there are still relatively high crime levels, the unresolved status of territory i.e. the UN Administered Territory of Kosovo, uncertain futures and interethnic distrust (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Southern Serbia and to some extent in Montenegro and Moldova) there will be people who feel that they are justified in keeping their guns. It is important to note that this report is the first of its kind to be conducted in SEE, or even globally (to our knowledge). The research team acknowledge that it will have inevitable shortcomings due to constraints such as limited time for research and production and a lack of available information. However, it is a valuable springboard for further research into the linkages between guns and culture, and their interplay with other factors in SEE such as the political and social context. ii ‘The rifle has the devil inside’ Gun Culture in South Eastern Europe (2006-06-15) Contents Acronyms and abbreviations .............................................................................................................................................................. i Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................................................... ii Contents ............................................................................................................................................................................................ iii 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................................1 2 Purpose of the report ..................................................................................................................................................................2