The Politics of the Past in Kosovo: Divisive and Shared Heritage in Mitrovica

The chapter gives an introduction to heritage politics in Kosovo and then focuses on the consequences and the aftermath of the Kosovo War in 1999. The development can be understood as conditions characterising conflict-time, in which heritage is used to continue a conflict with non-violent means. It is argued heritage not suitable to the means of conflict-time is forgotten and neglected, preventing the recognition of a plurality of heritage for a democratic and culturally diverse state. A case study is made of Mitrovica, a divided town in northern Kosovo where cultural heritage can be found from different historical periods and representing different groups in society, often used to validate one group against the other creating dissonant histories. By looking at dissonance choices and difficulties in managing heritage assets we try to understand the political and cultural situation of Mitrovica, and how it affects the attempt of nation-building.