#S2EP4 - Sports: a unifying and divisive force

#S2EP4 - Sports: a unifying and divisive force

Author: Kosovo 2.0 November 23, 2023 Duration: 55:05
Besa Luci in conversation with Loic Tregoures and Albert Mecini.If there’s one form of entertainment that can be considered universal, it’s sports. Be it through regular state games, regional matches, or worldwide competitions — sports have long been part of everyday life across the world. However, talking about sports transcends discussions of games, scores, favorite teams or favorite athletes. Sports have long been an intrinsic part of modern societies’ economic and political existence. In this regard, sports play a role in forging modern identities, serving as markers of national identity and expressions of national pride. Sports also serve as spaces where countries strive for international recognition, acceptance and visibility. Sports’ political nature means that sports hold the power and potential to either unite or divide cities, societies, or countries. Pitches and sports fields often become settings for larger political disputes to manifest, either in a given society’s internal politics or between different states.While it can be easy to emphasize sports’ divisive aspects, sports have become a force bringing together societies and countries in shared attempts to shape and promote relevant values and causes. And it is in this regard that we often hear about how sports could heal divisions in post-conflict societies and serve as an avenue for calls against racism and for equality and inclusion.Two guests join us to discuss topics surrounding sports as a unifying and divisive force. Loic Tregoures has authored several articles on sports and politics in Yugoslavia. He specializes in the Balkans, especially sports and has a PhD focusing specifically in football in the Yugoslav chaos. Albert Mecini is an assistant at the Department of Sociology at the University of Prishtina and PhD candidate. His academic inquiry and research focus largely on sports and sociological theory. Other Talking Points is produced by Besa Luci and Aulonë Kadriu.Music and sound mix by PUG musik.This podcast is part of the Human Rightivism project, which is funded by the Embassy of Sweden in Prishtina, implemented by the Community Development Fund through its Human Rightivism Program. The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the Embassy of Sweden in Prishtina.

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
#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…
#S1EP3 - Social Protection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 me…