Migrants’ community building in two Montenegrin informal neighborhoods

ABSTRACT

This research aims to benefit displaced people due to conflict in Kosovo and their commitment to community building in two Montenegrin informal neighborhoods. Drawing on qualitative data from observations, questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews, the author examines the potential for urban cohesion through inhabitation and political agency in the urban-occupied territories attributed to the physical and social qualities of neighborhoods. Urban cohesion involves feelings of trust, gathering, acceptance, and connectedness, while political agency entails the broadest and freest access to community tools. The consequence is a communal building that opposes dependence on the leadership of the elected representatives. Proponents of residents’ trust in the effective leadership of local elected officials and community representatives promote productive community development. Since evidence of the efficacy of this model is lacking in Montenegro, this article seeks to address inhabitants’ engagement with political parties, leading toward communal consciousness.

KEYWORDS:

• Edward P. Thompson
• urban cohesion
• political agency
• inhabitation
• communal consciousness

Acknowledgments

The author is grateful to the households for their kindness during the long fieldwork period, the anonymous reviewers for engaging with their thoughts, and the important comments made during reviews.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).