Institute for Modern Development

09/04/2026

Happy to be part of the project discussing the "strategic turnover" in the priorities of Western Balkans and the EU vice versa.

How Would the EU Benefit from the Integration of Western Balkans? A Question Addressed from a Central European PerspectiveIt is our great honor to invite you...

06/02/2025

Another episode of our podcast is here! 🎙️

The guest of this episode is Shpat Blakcori, a political reporter based in Prishtina, with Marta Szpala as the moderator.

In this in-depth conversation, they explore the complexities of Albanian-Serbian relations in Kosovo, particularly in light of recent political shifts and historical tensions. The discussion delves into the challenges posed by conflicting narratives and interpretations of past events, emphasizing the need for improved communication and mutual understanding. Shpat Blackori highlights the influential role of political leaders in shaping public perceptions and fostering distrust, while also stressing the potential of the younger generation to drive reconciliation. The conversation underscores the importance of a balanced approach—one that acknowledges the concerns of local Serbs, encourages honest discussions about historical grievances, and paves the way for a more inclusive and cooperative future.

Explore more discussions from My Hero, Your Enemy: Way Forward in the CEE SEE Region on our YouTube channel.

Big thanks to our incredible partners for making this project possible—especially the International Visegrad Fund for their generous support!

Moderator: Marta SzpalaGuest: Shpat V. Blakcori

05/02/2025

We've got more. 🎙️

In a recent discussion, journalist Goran Avramović from the Serbian community in Kosovo speaks with moderator Marta Szpala about the ongoing challenges facing Serbs in the region since tensions escalated two years ago. The conversation explores the deep impact of these tensions on daily life, including heightened fear, migration, and social isolation. Goran compares past events with the current situation, voicing concerns over rising ethnic nationalism, weak institutional support, and worsening economic conditions.

He stresses the importance of genuine dialogue between communities and urges political discussions to focus on the everyday struggles of ordinary people rather than elite maneuvering. Ultimately, he calls for concrete improvements in public services, economic opportunities, and mutual respect to build a more inclusive society.

Visit our YouTube channel to discover more content from the My Hero, Your Enemy: Way Forward in the CEE SEE Region project!

We’re immensely grateful to our fantastic partners for helping bring these episodes to life. A special shoutout to the International Visegrad Fund for their generous support! ❤️

Moderator: Marta SzpalaGuest: Goran Avroamović

04/02/2025

Ready for another episode of our podcast? 🎙️

In this video, the discussion centers around the current situation of the Serbian community in southern Kosovo, particularly in the city of Gračanica, as shared by journalist, Ana Ćup Marković. The conversation moderated by Marta Szpala highlights the rising tensions within the region over the past two years, exacerbated by the policies of the Kosovo government, which have caused a significant impact on the daily lives of the Serbs and other communities in the area.

The dialogue touches on various themes including fears surrounding education and health services, the economic struggles faced by the community, and the influence of political rhetoric on inter-ethnic relations. Marović emphasizes the need for dialogue and collaboration between communities to foster a more inclusive and sustainable environment, underscoring the importance of economic stability and addressing core issues affecting ordinary citizens.

Check out our YouTube channel, where you’ll find plenty of videos on the My Hero Your Enemy: Way Forward in the CEE SEE Region project.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners for making these episodes possible! Special thanks to the International Visegrad Fund for their generous support. ❤️

Moderator: Marta SzpalaGuest: Ana Cup Marković

03/02/2025

Are you up for a podcast? 🤗

Check out our YouTube channel, where you may find plenty of videos regarding the project My Hero Your Enemy: Way Forward in the CEE SEE Region.

The first episode we're sharing here is called "Why Bulgarians Don't Love Us".

This podcast episode of My Hero Your Enemy delves into the complex and multifaceted relationships between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, focusing on the historical perceptions, stereotypes, and emotional undercurrents that shape the discourse between these two nations.

The discussion features prominent guests Marinela Velichkova, Marjan Nikolovski, Rosi Angelova, Dusica Mrgja, and the moderator, Stole Naumov.

They explore the idea that heroes can be perceived as traitors depending on one’s perspective. The conversation emphasizes the need for understanding and addressing the emotions that fuel the tensions and stereotypes between Bulgarians and Macedonians. The guests articulate that while the political rhetoric often portrays Bulgaria as an adversary to Macedonian aspirations, the reality is more nuanced, with many in Bulgaria expressing support for Macedonia’s EU ambitions. They stress the importance of moving beyond negative perceptions and fostering constructive dialogue to create a more collaborative relationship that benefits both nations.

We owe the success of these episodes to our incredible partners. A special mention goes to the International Visegrad Fund for generously supporting the entire project.

Moderator: Stole NaumovGuests: Marinela Velichkova, Marjan Nikolovski, Dusica Mrdja, Rosi Angelova

22/09/2024

Is Ohrid on your mind? It’s on ours too! If you haven’t yet, take a moment to watch our video from the conference *My Hero Your Enemy: Historical Narratives in National Identity Building in the CEE and SEE Region*, held earlier this year in the stunning city of Ohrid, North Macedonia. In this 20-minute video, you’ll get a glimpse of how our conferences unfold and hear from some of our participants as they discuss crucial topics. 👐

We owe the success of this event to our incredible partners. A special mention goes to the International Visegrad Fund for generously supporting the entire conference and to Kasarna HUB for graciously hosting us in their wonderful venue. 🫶

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our valued partners: Villa Decius Institute for Culture (PL), Slovak Debate Association (SK), Foundation for Humanities and Social Studies - Sofia (BG), NGO Aktiv (RKS), Institute of European Studies (SRB), Eurothink (NMK), and Institute of Political History (HU). 🙏

The link to the video is right here:

The conference in Ohrid, held from April 16 - 18, 2024, addressed historical challenges, political development, and social resilience. The event featured exp...

10/09/2024

On June 19th, 2024, the beautiful Tuscany Palace in Hradčany, Prague, hosted the conference My Hero, Your Enemy: Lessons Learned from Historical and Political Disputes in the V4 and SEE Region. This event was a continuation of the earlier conference Understanding Matters: The SEE Region as a Battlefield of Narratives, which took place in Ohrid, North Macedonia. 🇲🇰🇨🇿

The Czech Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Marian, warmly welcomed the attendees, after which the conference began. The program was divided into four key sections:

1st)
Panel discussion: Building a Dialogue in the SEE Region - A Case Study of Kosovo and Serbia

2nd)
Panel discussion: Building a Dialogue in the SEE Region - A Case Study of North Macedonia and Bulgaria

3rd)
Talking My Hero Your Enemy: Are We Ready for Dialogue?

4th)
Conclusion: The Future of Dialogue – Education, Media, Politics

This event would not have been possible without the tremendous support of our partners, with special thanks to the International Visegrad Fund, whose backing made the entire conference possible. 🥰
Special thank also to our partners: Villa Decius Institute for Culture (PL), Slovak Debate Association (SK), Foundation for Humanities and Social Studies - Sofia (BG), NGO Aktiv (RKS), Institute of European Studies (SRB), Eurothink (NMK), Institute of Political History (HU).

The conference was held under the patronage of the Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jan Lipavský.

Below are some snaps from the event.

29/08/2024

The IFMD, besides other things, focuses on organizing conferences that would bring relevant stakeholders in confidence-building measures in the CEE and SEE region together, such as civil society actors, experts, journalists, and political stakeholders, to foster and maintain communication and dialogue on specific topics. 🫶

This year, the Institute for Modern Development was happy to host the conference called My Hero Your Enemy, which was split into two parts. The first one took part in April 2024 in Ohrid, North Macedonia. The latter was in June 2024 in Prague, Czechia.
🇲🇰🇨🇿

This post is dedicated to the first part.

Conference My Hero Your Enemy: Historical Narratives in National Identity Building in the CEE and SEE Region took place in the beautiful city of Ohrid in North Macedonia from 16th – 18th April 2024. The discussion panels took place specifically on the premises of

The whole conference was split into 4 panels and 2 round table discussions.

Opening Panel and Welcome Adress were provided by Michal Vít (Balkanist and co-founder of IFMD), H. E. Jaroslav Ludva (Ambassador of the Czech Republic to the Republic of North Macedonia), Petr Mareš (Director of the International Visegrad Fund) and Milan Igruntinović (Research Associate at Institute of European Studies).

The other panels focused on the Legacy of Yugoslavia in the Southeast Europe Region, National Identity Building in the Context of Multiethnic Societies in the Early 21st Century, and lastly, a panel called How to Channel Nationalist Aspirations Participant.

Also, two round table discussions took place: Dynamics of Dialogue in South East Europe and Journalists Caught in a Trap.

This conference probably would not have happened without the support of our partners. Special gratitude goes towards 🙌 Not possible without our partners: Villa Decius Institute for Culture (PL), Slovak Debate Association (SK), Foundation for Humanities and Social Studies - Sofia (BG), NGO Aktiv (RKS), Institute of European Studies (SRB), Eurothink (NMK), Institute of Political History (HU).

17/04/2024

📢 Announcement: Institute for Modern Development Presents "My Hero Your Enemy: Historical Narratives in National Identity Building in the CEE and SEE Region"

We are thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated event, "My Hero Your Enemy," initiated by the esteemed International Visegrad Fund in 2011, is now happening in Kasarna HUB ! This time, we are proud to extend the initiative beyond the Visegrad Four (V4), reaching out to the broader V4 and SEE (South Eastern Europe) regions.

With a special focus on fostering bilateral processes, our attention is directed towards the vibrant societies of North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Kosovo, and Serbia. These countries, rich in history and culture, provide a unique backdrop for exploring the intricate tapestry of narratives that shape national identities.

This gathering serves as a platform for engaging discussions, insightful panels, and collaborative exchanges among experts, scholars, and stakeholders from across the region.

Furthermore, we are excited to announce that the journey will culminate in a comprehensive summary event scheduled for June in the captivating city of Prague. This grand finale promises to encapsulate the key insights and discoveries unearthed throughout the course of our exploration.

None of this would be possible without the invaluable support of our esteemed partners in both regions. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the International Visegrad Fund for their unwavering commitment and support in bringing this visionary initiative to fruition.

For further details and to stay updated on this transformative event, please visit our official website: https://www.ifmd.net/myheroyourenemy?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3ORnbdpPF-Nlt384Btd9Tii_oUeKwrVw8q-PdVYaGWFkMIiEALusRS5Y8_aem_ATt4PB_kayw99H2tzhZesLUj4fBKbeY9sRMJT3ASIkKSk_sYOMikEViVulsGidLugqJCykwAO91ceJOlWf3zd1vY

15/04/2024

Getting ready for the conference My Hero Your Enemy: Historical Narratives in National Identity Building in the CEE and SEE Region supported by

06/02/2024

We are happy to share a great news! The initiative My Hero Your Enemy which was initiated by the International Visegrad Fund in 2011 is coming to the third edition. This time, the initiate will go beyond V4. We will pay attention to bilateral processes in the broader V4 and SEE region, with focus on North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Kosovo, and Serbia.
First event will take place in Ohrid (North Macedonia) in 16-18 April and in summary event in June in Prague.
This cannot happen without our partners in both regions. See details here: https://www.ifmd.net/myheroyourenemy

Big thank to support by the International Visegrad Fund!

The upcoming conferences in Ohrid and Prague are part of a continuing initiative that began with earlier conferences supported by the International Visegrad Fund. These include the "My Hero, Your Enemy" conference held in Prague in 2011 and the conference "National Identities in Central Europe in th...