Case Study: Kosovo

Kosovo a new country found in one of Europe's poorest regions, almost half its people live in poverty. Its main economic activity is agriculture, even though it possesses rich mineral resources. Kosovo was one of the last countries to emerge from the break of Yugoslavia. However, the emergence of Kosovo as an independent country was not a pleasant one. It became the scene of violent conflict in the mid to late 1990s. This conflict was between Kosovo Albanian resistance forces and Serbian military. The commotion and violence throughout the then state of Yugoslavoa, caused a lot huge amount of tension between the inhabitants. This is shown by the fact that some 200,000-280,000 people (the majority of a the Serbian population) left Kosovo with the Serbian forces. The tension, however, still remains with looting of Serbian properties by inhabitants who have a severe distaste for Serbs and general violence against both parties of people. Also, it is clear that the nation has not settled with over 65,000-250,000 (a figure disputed by some) IDP's or internally displaced persons.

During the war a number of the killings/ executions of Kosovo Albanians made it clear that some outside intervention was desperately needed. So in March 2009 NATO launched a ten week aerial bombardment against Serbia. These intensive attacks were aimed at the Serbian military and police forces, causing them to withdraw from Kosovo. It is estimated that during the war, more than 13,000 people died, were wounded or went missing and the scale of the tension and disturbance is clear when up to 1 million people were forced to leave their homes and flee to the surrounding countries. The population now consists of about 2 million Albanians who make up around 90% of the population, and around 100,000 Serbs remained after the war. They live in separate areas watched over by NATO peacekeepers.

This conflict is a good example of inter-state conflict with many not knowing who to trust, and fearing that if they settle down they will have to accept and comply to a new set of rules and regulations. This is seen is the huge amount of IDP's. Fear that violence will kick off again is also evident in the fact that external forces have stayed for such a long period of time. This is also a good example of tribalism, where there are many different minorities, who have settled and are not willing to change their cultures and risk losing identity for the good of the nation. Change is needed, but for change to be put in place, you need a stable and popular leader who can unite the nation and lift it from its poverty stricken state.

So in conclusion cooperation and trust is needed in Kosovo, Why? Well, the UN can only do so much. It is up to the government to make some fast and effective decisions, and it is also up to the remaining Serbs to gain the trust and friendship of the inhabitants.
They need to change the way the country is headed. Its up to them to transform it short history.