Kosovo : The Achilles' Heel of Balkan Security
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| Year of publication | 2023 |
| Type | Chapter of a book |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
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| Description | The case of Kosovo and its unique position before international law vis-a-vis territorial integrity and statehood remains in the spotlight more than ten years after the proclamation of its independence. This chapter investigates the main security threats that determine Kosovo’s position within the region and beyond, expanding to include inter-ethnic, religious, economic, environmental, energy, foreign, and democratic considerations. The chapter explains that the complexities behind the ongoing Belgrade-Pristina dialogue represent the biggest potential security threat in the country, particularly as talks in Brussels entail the contested issue of statehood. The authors claim that NATO remains the most prominent peace and security guarantor in Kosovo, thus acting as a buffer between Belgrade and Pristina and preventing any possibility of escalation. Due to the country’s vulnerabilities in terms of ethnic tensions, economic and environmental issues, and religious extremist tendencies, Kosovo remains susceptible to influence by foreign actors, while at the same time being the fiercest supporter of the EU in the region. |
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