#S1EP3 - Social Protection

#S1EP3 - Social Protection

Author: Kosovo 2.0 December 22, 2022 Duration: 56:11
Besa Luci in conversation with Maja Gerovska-Mitev and Artan Mustafa.In this episode, we look at social protection. That is, whether and to what extent countries in the region have social schemes and programs that can meaningfully help the most vulnerable and have a meaningful effect on economic mobility. Access to adequate social protection becomes particularly critical in times of crisis and economic shocks. During the pandemic, we experienced first-hand how essential social protection is. Many people lost their jobs, industry came to a halt, and medical institutions were in a shock. This created a greater awareness of the essential nature of social safety nets. These shocks to the global economic system continued in 2022 when Russia’s war in Ukraine led to global inflation, which degraded the value of people's savings and paychecks, and which put low-income people in an especially vulnerable position.Most governments in the region intervened and rolled out relief packages that aimed to help more vulnerable groups in society face the added burdens and pressures. However, there’s much to explore about the extent to which safety nets were already existing and whether response measures contributed to relief for citizens.   I spoke about different aspects of social protection schemes with two scholars of social policy and welfare systems who recently co-authored a paper that examines social protection spending and redistribution in the region between 2005 and 2016.Maja Gerovska-Mitev is a professor of social policy in North Macedonia. Her research focuses on examining the changing nature of welfare systems and their impact on poverty and social exclusion. Artan Mustafa is a professor and social policy researcher in Kosovo, whose research focuses on the politics of the welfare state, social policy design, change and outcomes, and the social foundations of political parties.Other Talking Points is produced by Besa Luci, Aulonë Kadriu and Gentiana Paçarizi.Music and sound mix by PUG musik.This episode was produced with the financial support of the National Endowment for Democracy.You can listen to Other Talking Points through our website or by subscribing to K2.0 on Spotify.

In each episode of Other Talking Points, a production of Kosovo 2.0, editor-in-chief Besa Luci sits down with a guest whose voice and work challenge conventional narratives. These are not hurried interviews but considered conversations, often meandering through personal history, creative process, and critical thought. You’ll hear from authors dissecting the narratives of place, scholars questioning entrenched ideas, artists explaining the impetus behind their work, and activists detailing the realities of their struggles. The guests hail primarily from Kosovo and the surrounding region, but the scope frequently widens to include compelling voices from across the globe, creating a unique dialogue between local context and wider currents of thought. This podcast operates in the spaces between news and commentary, offering depth and nuance where headlines often fall short. The aim is to move beyond the usual soundbites and talking points that dominate public discourse, hence the name. By focusing intently on an individual’s journey and intellectual contributions, each discussion naturally opens up to reveal new perspectives on politics, culture, society, and what it means to engage with the world thoughtfully. Listening feels like being present for a genuine exchange, one that prioritizes understanding over simple debate. It’s for anyone curious about the forces shaping contemporary life in Southeast Europe and beyond, delivered through the intimate, unfolding format that only a thoughtful podcast can provide. The result is a collection of episodes that together build a complex and human portrait of the issues that define our time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 23

Other Talking Points
Podcast Episodes
#S1EP13 - The Extra Obstacles Confronting Women Journalists [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:24
Besa Luci in conversation with Maša Mileusnić and Dafina Halili.In this episode, we talk about the experiences of women journalists in Kosovo, Serbia and the broader region. Though women's perspectives and voices are inc…
#S1EP12 - Is there anything new with the Association? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:21
Besa Luci in conversation with Adi Ćerimagić and Augustin Palokaj.In this episode, we talk about the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities in Kosovo.Arising in 2013 as part of an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia…
#S1EP11 - Pop culture — commodity or confrontation? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:07
Besa Luci in conversation with Lindita Tahiri and Jovana Gligorijević.Songs, movies, reality shows, video games, news — these products of popular culture shape our society. From the way we interact with others, how we vi…
#S1EP9 -  The Balkan Route, migration and people on the move [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:31
Besa Luci in conversation with Gorana Mlinarević and Lura Pollozhani.Migration is a topic people in the Balkans are far too familiar with. Whether we’re talking about the current economic migration to the West that is dr…
#S1EP8 -  Same-sex Unions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:45
Besa Luci in conversation with Jelena Čolaković and Valmira Rashiti.In this episode we talk about the legal recognition of LGBTQ+ rights, with a focus on same-sex unions.Securing fundamental human rights across the Balka…
#S1EP7 -  Unpaid Labor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:15
Besa Luci in conversation with Marigona Drevinja and Nađa Bobičić.In this episode we'll be talking about unpaid labor — about the cleaning, cooking, childcare, eldercare and more that is performed inside the home and in…
#S1EP6 -  Climate Change [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:25
Besa Luci in conversation with Vladimir Djurdjević and Granit Gashi.In this episode, we’ll be talking about climate change. How vulnerable is our region to the warming of the planet? Are we taking enough measures to addr…
#S1EP5 -  Gentrification [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:18
Besa Luci in conversation with Dorina Pllumbi and Iva Čukić.In this episode, we look at gentrification in urban spaces in the Balkans.Gentrification is when poor or underserved areas undergo transformations that expand e…
#S1EP4 -  A Different Approach to Kosovo and Serbia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:20
Besa Luci in conversation with Visar Ymeri and Aleksandar Pavlović.In this episode, we look at the ways we talk about the relationship between Kosovo and Serbia.Since 2011, the dominant framework for talking about the re…