Muslims and Christians in the Balkans: Historical Aspect and Contemporary Challenges -Dialogue without Alternative-,

Abstract

For ten turbulent years, from 1991 to 1999, high intensity armed conflicts, which had devastating effects on the relationship between the inhabitants, broke out in Kosovo. While it is not the purpose of this paper to present a comprehensive overview of the recent history of the Balkans, and Former Yugoslavia in particular, focusing on certain facts and events will enable us to understand the conditions for the formation of new countries after the disintegration of Yugoslavia. Among those language, identity, relations with the other and interreligious dialogue are extremely delicate and political issues. With a reference to interreligious dialogue this paper seeks to present the characteristics of the relations between Muslims and Christians in the Balkans. In this regard, firstly, I will focus on the meaning and significance of dialogue in the Balkans and then deal with Qur’anic approach to the dialogue. After discussing the barriers set against the dialogue in the Balkans, and particularly ideological prejudices among them, I will analyse the possibilities to build collaboration between the Balkan Muslims and Christians in the face of new world challenges.