Prishtina – A New European Capital

Author: Besnik Aliaj
Affiliation:  Polis University

Abstract
“Prishtina – A new European capital” has been an inspiring experience but a complex project in itself. Although it had a good basis because of the interaction experiences of Co-Plan Institute and Polis University staff with Kosova institutions and professionals over last 2 decades, it has been never enough to take a position towards the future of a city or a country in itself. However, using well-structured ‘external’ research sometimes works better in an emotional postwar context like Prishtina where memories related to war of the past are still fresh and often blocking the decision-making processes related to future city development. Adding here also the exploding urbanization and a vivid - almost informal- market economy, makes it here even more difficult to correctly read the city in a short time. However, cooperation with local professionals and a strict methodological approach based on the experiences coming from POLIS/ UNIFE and Co-PLAN, made possible for our students, staff and PhD researchers to further elaborate their ideas and concepts over three main lines: i) the intensive visits and fieldwork in Kosova and Prishtina; ii) specialized studios and workshops in Tirana and Ferrara; iii) and independent individual research. Such volume of work coordinated over more than one year by our academic team concludes successfully with a tangible product such as this publication that helpfully might be useful to Kosovar authorities, people, academics, researchers and professionals there.