Bridging Kosovo's ethnic divide? The roles of the international community in promoting improved ethnic relations in 'post-conflict' Kosovo.

摘要

Over four years after the international intervention in Kosovo, the ethnic divide remains wide. This thesis explores whether peacebuilding efforts in Kosovo have furthered the international community's goal of creating a multiethnic society. Major issues that affect ethnic relations in Kosovo, and the manner in which they have been addressed, are discussed using stories collected through ethnographic research in Kosovo. A diverse sample of peacebuilding programs is described, and specific characteristics of these programs are identified, including: direction (top-down versus bottom-up); level of actor (elite, mid-level or grassroots); peacebuilding emphasis (coexistence, reconciliation, or justice); approach (structural, experiential or interpersonal); and coordination. An analysis of these characteristics informs a discussion of the effectiveness of different approaches to promoting improved ethnic relations in Kosovo. Conclusions about the international community's efforts to build a multiethnic society in Kosovo follow from this analysis, including a discussion of lessons and recommendations for future peacebuilding efforts.