Young people play a central role in shaping the democratic, social, and economic future of Kosovo and Serbia. At the same time, their extensive engagement with digital platforms, combined with economic uncertainty, limited opportunities, political polarization, and questions of identity and belonging, can create vulnerabilities that foreign actors seek to exploit.
The publication “Youth Extremism and Foreign Influence: Russia’s Digital Mobilization Strategies and Their Impact in Kosovo and Serbia” examines how Russia uses historical narratives, state-defined patriotism, and digital communication as interconnected instruments of influence. Particular attention is given to the weaponization of historical memory and collective grievances, which can reinforce divisions, deepen perceptions of victimhood, and provide fertile ground for extremist and polarizing narratives.
The study places these dynamics within the broader framework of Russian influence operations. In the Russian domestic context, history and patriotism have increasingly been treated as strategic instruments for shaping national and civic identity. Curated interpretations of the past are reinforced through education, political discourse, cultural narratives, and state communication, creating an ideological framework that can also be adapted for influence abroad.
Digital platforms provide a particularly powerful means of translating these broader narratives into targeted forms of mobilization. Against this background, the publication considers the relevance of these methods for Kosovo and Serbia, where unresolved historical grievances and competing interpretations of conflict and national identity remain politically and socially significant. These narratives are not created by external actors, but they can be identified, amplified, and strategically manipulated to increase polarization and weaken social cohesion.
By examining these challenges comparatively, the publication seeks to contribute to a better understanding of how foreign influence can interact with existing societal divisions and how Kosovo and Serbia can strengthen the resilience of young people against manipulation, polarization, and extremist mobilization.