KOSOVO/A CRISIS IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS THEORIES

Abstract

analytical perspectives of International Relations as well as of the alternativeapproaches. This paper aims to evaluate the dimensions of the Kosova crisis, theimportance it gained in international relations, and especially questioning its popular depiction as the first war fought on values and principles.Kosova issue raised crucial questions in academia, research institutions and international community due to its standing at the intersection of hotly debate dissues like ethnic violence, identity politics, human rights, sovereignty and international law to name but a few. Some of the research questions which guidethis study are as follows: Was the Kosova crisis and the war that followed primary a result of the primordial ethnic hatreds between two main ethnic groups Albanians and Serbs or is such antagonism socially constructed? Were it and the NATOintervention a result of systemic sources like international anarchy, or conducted for humanitarian reasons, or a result of United States hegemony? Or was it asVaclav Havel proclaimed the first war not been waged in the name of "nationalinterest" but rather in the name of principles and values?Different theories have different things to say about the Kosova crisis emphasizing different aspects of this complex issue and revealing its multidimensional naturethat cannot fully grasped by any single theory. It is argued that Kosova crisis was far from being an isolated matter between two ethnic groups, let alone being just awar fought for values and principles.