Kosovo- A Unique Experiment in Europe- in the International Context at the End of the Cold War?

The question of interethnic and interreligious conflicts in ex-Yugoslavia receives much attention within the framework of the international context created after 1991 because of the impact of these conflicts on the security and the stability of the region of Balkans and of Europe. This paper focuses on the rationales leading to the declaration of independence by Kosovo according to ethnic and religious criteria and analyzes why these same rationales were not applied in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The approach undertaken aims at comparatively examining the cases of Kosovo, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the same time, it aims at understanding the political decision making of the international community in the case of Kosovo. Specifically, was this a good political decision for the security and the stability of the region of Balkans, of Europe, or even for global security and stability? This research starts with an overview on the European security framework post 1991, paying particular attention to Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It then presents the theoretical and methodological framework and compares the representative cases. Using the constructivism issue and the comparative methodology, it arrives at the results of the study. An important issue of the paper is the thesis that this event modifies the principles of international law and creates dangerous precedents for regional stability in the Balkans.

Authors:

• Raluca Iulia Iulian

Keywords:

• Interethnic and interreligious conflict
• security andstability
• superpower.

References:

[1] S. Berstain, P. Milza, "Istoria Europei", vol.1, Institutul European, Iasi,
1997, p.8
[2] R. Keohane, "Lilliputian-s Dillemas: Small States in International
Politics", International Organisation, XXIII.2. Spring 1969, p.296 in J.
Barrea, "Théorie des Relations Internationales, La Grammaire des
Evénements", 3e édition, Artel, Louvain-la-Neuve, 1994, p.148.
[3] J.Simon, "Does Eastern Europe belong to NATO?", Orbis, Winter 1993,
p.21.
[4] F. Guida, "Dayton dieci anni dopo. Guerra e pace nella ex Jugoslavia",
Carocci, Roma, 2007.
[5] "Dictionnaire de géopolitique", sous la direction de Yves Lacoste,
Flammarion, Paris, 1993, p.1605-1614.
[6] "Le Petit Robert", Paris, 1972, p.327.
[7] P. Defarges Moreau, "Introduction a la géopolitique", Ed. du Seuil,
Paris, sept. 1994, p.151.
[8] S. P.Huntington, "The Clash of Civilisations?", Foreign Affairs, summer
1993, pp.22-49.
[9] S. Huntington, "Le choc des civilizations", Odile Iacob, Paris, 2000,
p.61.
[10] Ibidem, p.40.
[11] Ibidem, p.281.
[12] E. Mortimer, "Christianity and Islam", International Affairs, January
1991, p.7.
[13] F. Charillon, "Politique étrangère, Nouveaux regards", Presses de la
Fondation Nationale des Sciences Politiques, Paris, 2002, p.66.
[14] A. Wendt, "Anarchy is What States Make of it: The Social Construction
of Power Politics", International Organisation, 46 (2), 1992.
[15] C. Ragin, "The comparative method: moving beyond qualitative and
quantitative strategies", Los Angeles University of California press,
1987.
[16] G. Sartori, "Bien comparer. Mal comparer", Revue Internationale de
Politique Comparée, Vol. 1 Nr.1 pp.19-36.
[17] Central Intelligence Agency, Available:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-worldfactbook/
geos/kv.html
[18] "National Security Strategy of United States", The White Hause, 1991,
p.3, Available: http://www.comw.org/qdr/offdocs.html
[19] "A National Security Strategy for a New Century", The White Hause,
December 1999, p27, Available: http://www.comw.org/qdr/offdocs.html
[20] "The National Security Strategy", The White Hause, 2006, Available:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss/2006/
[21] F. Guida, "Dayton dieci anni dopo. Guerra e pace nella ex Jugoslavia",
Carocci, Roma, 2007.