Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2019 Political Trust in Kosovo: Exploring Cultural and Institutional Dynamics Ermira Babamusta West Virginia University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Part of the Comparative and Foreign Law Commons, Courts Commons, Eastern European Studies Commons, International Law Commons, International Relations Commons, Judges Commons, Law and Politics Commons, Law and Society Commons, Military, War, and Peace Commons, National Security Law Commons, and the Rule of Law Commons Recommended Citation Babamusta, Ermira, "Political Trust in Kosovo: Exploring Cultural and Institutional Dynamics" (2019). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 3918. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/3918 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you must obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in WVU Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports collection by an authorized administrator of The Research Repository @ WVU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. POLITICAL TRUST IN KOSOVO Exploring Cultural and Institutional Dynamics Ermira Neki Babamusta B.A., Waldorf College, 2003 M.A., Minnesota State University, 2005 M.A., Long Island University, 2008 Dissertation submitted to the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science / International Relations R. Scott Crichlow, Ph.D., Committee Chairperson David M. Hauser, Ph.D. John C. Kilwein, Ph.D. Joe D. Hagan, Ph.D. Robert D. Duval, Ph.D. Department of Political Science Morgantown, West Virginia 2019 Keywords: political trust, defining trust, political trust and its origins, social trust, institutional performance, rule of law, Kosovo. Copyright 2019 Ermira Neki Babamusta Abstract POLITICAL TRUST IN KOSOVO: Exploring Cultural and Institutional Dynamics Ermira Neki Babamusta, Ph.D. In this dissertation I examine political trust perceptions across different political-legal institutions and actors in Kosovo. I evaluate the levels of political trust using cultural and institutional performance explanations to investigate the key factors that have an impact on political trust. The study explores national political trust and international political trust, considering many domains of political trust: government, political leaders, political parties, Kosovo Courts, Kosovo Police, NATO, United Nations, European Union, and the Kosovo Specialist Court. There is growing concern about lower levels of political trust across Europe, especially in post-communist countries. In this study, I make the case that trust in political institutions is vital to the democratic functioning of the state. A certain degree of trustworthiness in institutions is a necessary precondition for the legitimacy, fairness and democratic governance. The research findings illustrate that transitional democracies like Kosovo face lower levels of trust due to corruption, security and stability concerns, and low government performance. APPROVAL PAGE Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation Political Trust in Kosovo: Exploring Cultural and Institutional Dynamics Presented by Ermira Neki Babamusta, B.A., M.A. Chair ________________________________________________________ R. Scott Crichlow, Ph.D. _____________________________________________________________ David M. Hauser, Ph.D. _____________________________________________________________ John C. Kilwein, Ph.D. _____________________________________________________________ Joe D. Hagan, Ph.D. _____________________________________________________________ Robert D. Duval, Ph.D. West Virginia University 2019 DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this work to my family, my parents Neki and Suzana Babamusta, my sister Edlira, brother-in-law Russell, my adorable nieces Emily and Victoria, who have given me tremendous positive support and cheered me on. Thank you for your love, continued encouragement and inspiring me to follow my dreams. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 First and foremost, I would like to thank God Almighty for giving me the strength, knowledge and the ability to persevere through this ambitious research study. I found many blessings along the way in achieving small goals, overcoming adversity, reminding me about discipline and having faith. I would like to express the deepest appreciation to my advisor and my committee chair Professor R. Scott Crichlow, who is a wonderful mentor that brings out the best in you. I deeply appreciate the insightful guidance and the help of all committee members, Dr. David M. Hauser, Dr. John C. Kilwein, Dr. Joe D. Hagan, and Dr. Robert D. Duval, and to Dr. Matthew Jacobsmeier for the wonderful support. My sincere thanks to the people of Kosovo and my dear friends for their hospitality and warm welcome: Hyrie Gashi family, Gëzim Kunoviku family, Valbona Hajredini, Emine Emini, Halil Gashi, Assemblyman Mehmet Hajarizi, Lt. Col. Enver Dugolli, UK’s Defence Attaché Mark D. Vickers, Glauk Konjufca, Judge Bekim Sejdiu, Aaron Nething, and Minister Edita Tahiri. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents Abstract………………………………………………………………………… ii Dedication………………………………………………………………………iv Acknowledgements……………………………………………………………...v LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………..x LISTO TABLES………………………………………………………………..xi LIST OF GRAPHS…………………………………………………………….xii ABREVIATIONS……………………………………………………………..xiv 1. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………..…………….1 1.1 THE PUZZLE: DETERMINANTS OF POLITICAL TRUST…..…...1 1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT……………………………………………6 1.2.1 Contributions and Original Study.….……...…………………….10 1.2.2 Dissertation Structure…………………………………...……….13 2. LITERATURE REVIEW………………………………………………….14 2.1 THE CULTURAL VERSUS INSTITUTIONAL DEBATE…….…...14 2.1.1 Political Trust in Transitional Democracies..……….………..….14 2.1.2 The Theoretical Debate……………………………………….….19 2.1.3 Measuring Political Trust…………………………………….…..21 2.1.4 Interpersonal Trust…………………………………………….....24 2.1.5 Trustworthiness…………………………………………………..27 2.1.6 Legitimacy………………………………………………………..30 2.2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK…………………………………...32 DEFINING POLITICAL TRUST…………………………………...32 2.2.1 Political Trust and its Origin….………………………………....32 2.2.2 Definitions of Political Trust……………………………………..36 2.2.3 Variances of Political Trust……………………………………...38 vi 2.2.4 Political Trust Redefined…………………………………………41 3. BACKGROUND OF THE KOSOVO CASE STUDY…………………..46 3.1 HISTORY………………………………………………………….46 3.2 THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE………………………………50 3.3 KOSOVO A SUCCESS STORY………………………………….57 3.4 RULE OF LAW…………………………………………………....62 3.5 KOSOVO SPECIALIST COURT…………………………………67 A rocky start: Opposition for the creation of the Special Court……..69 Turning Over a New Leaf in Justice………………………………….72 3.6 KOSOVO-SERBIA RELATIONS………………………………...75 4. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND METHODS…………………….78 4.1 RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND HYPOTHESIS………………...78 4.2 MODELS OF POLITICAL TRUST……………………………….81 4.3 DATA AND RESEARCH DESIGN………………………………87 4.3.1 Nature of the study…………………………………….……….87 4.3.2 Research Strategy……………………………………………...88 4.3.3 Research Scope………………………………………………...91 4.3.4 Field Trips in Kosovo………………………………………….94 4.3.5 Data Collection Methods and Tools………………………….100 4.4 MEASURES AND VARIABLES………………………………..104 4.4.1 Measures of Political Trust…………………………………..104 Indicators…………………………………………………...104 Dependent Variable: Political Trust……………………….104 Independent Variables……………………………………...106 National Identity…………………………………………....106 Interpersonal Trust………………………………………....107 Trustworthiness…………………………………………….108 Performance………………………………………………..110 4.4.2 Sample Selection……………………………………………..119 vii 4.4.3 Interviews…………………………………………………….121 4.4.4 Analytical Constrains………………………………………...124 5. RESULTS…………………………………………………………………125 5.1 LEVELS AND STRUCTURE OF POLITICAL TRUST IN KOSOVO…………………………………………………………125 5.1.1 Trust in Government………………………………………….125 5.1.2 Trust in Kosovo Police……………………………………….130 5.1.3 Trust in the International Civil and Military Presence………135 5.1.4 Trust in the U.S. Embassy in Kosovo………………………...138 5.1.5 Trust in the Kosovo Legal System……………………………142 5.1.6 Trust in the Kosovo Specialist Court…………………………143 5.1.7 Trust in Media/TV…………………………………………….145 6. EXPLAINING POLITICAL TRUST IN KOSOVO…………………...151 6.1 VARIATIONS IN POLITICAL TRUST………………………...151 6.1.1 International and Country Level……………………………..151 6.2 SOCIO-CULTURAL EXPLANATIONS………………………..155 6.2.1 The Role of National Identification…………………………..155 6.2.2 Ethnic Identification and Participation………………………161 6.2.3 The Importance of Interpersonal Trust………………………168 In-Group vs. Out-Group Trust……………………………..169 6.2.4 The Cultural Perspective……………………………………..181 6.3 INSTITUTIONAL PERFORMANCE EXPLANATIONS………184 6.3.1 Trustworthiness in the Political System………………………184 6.3.2 Trustworthiness in the Political Parties………………………187 viii 6.3.3 Trustworthiness in the Political Leaders……………………...193 6.3.4 Trustworthiness