This paper deals with the Kosovo-War of 1999 and tries to examine this conflict by using the Multi-Level-Analysis. This approach was first established by the Realist scholar Kenneth Waltz in 1954 and it marks a key aspect of the Realist-theory of International Relations.
On the one hand the Multi-Level-Analysis provides the opportunity to explain the causes of war on different levels of society like the individual, the societal and the international level. On the other hand, conflict resolutions can be found as well by finding and solving the conflict causes on each level.
In its first chapter, the following paper will give an overview of the Realist Multi- Level-Analysis as presented by Kenneth Waltz. The theory’s application for the explanation and the resolution of conflicts will also be an aspect of the first chapter. The following chapters will use this theoretical template to find and to explain the different conflict causes on each level which lead to the Kosovo-War.
Therefore, the second chapter examines the behaviour and policy of the two major protagonists on the individual level. Slobodan Milosevic as President of Yugoslavia and Ibrahim Rugova as the representative of the Kosovo-Albanians will be confronted and compared to find the conflict’s individual motives.
The third chapter deals with the national resp. societal level. Here the conflicting interests of different ethnical or social groups shall be presented. But also economical problems and social injustice played an important role for the rise of the conflict in Kosovo. These aspects will be examined as well.
The fourth chapter gives an overview of the most important actors on the international level. Those are organisations like the EU, NATO, OSCE but also Russia and the USA. Their roles, interests and importance during the conflict will be explained and compared regarding Waltz’ theory about conflict causes on the international level.
The paper ends with a summary of the preceding chapters and a critical view on Waltz’ theory. The questions, in how far the Multi-Level-Analysis is applicable on the Kosovo-War and whether it can offer possibilities for conflict resolution will be answered in this last chapter.
Table of Contents
Introduction
1. The theory of Multi-Level-Analysis
2. The individual level
2.1 Slobodan Milosevic
2.2 Ibrahim Rugova
3. The national level
3.1 The situation in Kosovo
3.2 The situation in Yugoslavia
4. The international level
4.1 The UN
4.2 The EU
4.3 The OSCE
4.4 The Balkans Contact Group
4.5 The G-8
4.6 NATO
5. Conclusion
6. Bibliography
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze the 1999 Kosovo War by applying the Multi-Level-Analysis framework established by Kenneth Waltz. By examining conflict causes across the individual, national, and international levels, the research evaluates the applicability of Realist theory to the Kosovo conflict and investigates potential pathways for sustainable conflict resolution.
- Application of Kenneth Waltz's Multi-Level-Analysis to the Kosovo War.
- Examination of individual political actors (Milosevic and Rugova) and their impact on the conflict.
- Analysis of societal conditions, ethnic tensions, and national political dynamics in Kosovo and Yugoslavia.
- Assessment of international organizations (UN, EU, OSCE, NATO) and their roles in the peace process.
- Evaluation of the efficacy of the Stability Pact and international intervention strategies.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Slobodan Milosevic
In 1987, the old fashioned communist Milosevic was elected by the 8th plenum of the central committee of the Serbian Communist Party as President of Yugoslavia. As usual in communist parties and dictatorships, Milosevic was used to reduce all social or political controversies into a friend-enemy-scheme. Right against wrong, good against evil, revolution against restoration were the leading principles of Milosevic’ policy and helped him to consolidate his power. That is why he created crises and wars again and again. Coming to decisions by struggle was his way of policy rather than the way of finding compromises. By using the struggle as a way of politics, compromise is reduced to a sign of weakness. In crisis and during the struggle against inner and foreign enemies, Milosevic used threats and retaliatory measures to create a permanent sphere of fear among those who did not submit to his policy.
By using the media, above all Television, Milosevic was enabled to promote himself as the only saviour of the Serbian people in a period of disintegration and insecurity. In his speeches on TV, in parliament and in public, Milosevic tried to emphasise the unity among the Serbian people by using the history of Kosovo and the Amselfeld.
Summary of Chapters
1. The theory of Multi-Level-Analysis: Provides an overview of Kenneth Waltz’s Realist framework, identifying the individual, state, and international levels as key areas for understanding war causes.
2. The individual level: Compares the roles and policies of Slobodan Milosevic and Ibrahim Rugova, evaluating how their individual actions contributed to the escalation of the conflict.
3. The national level: Examines the societal and political situation within Kosovo and Yugoslavia, focusing on ethnic tensions and the failure of domestic political integration.
4. The international level: Analyzes the involvement and relative success or failure of various international actors, including the UN, EU, OSCE, and NATO, in managing the crisis.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings and critically assesses whether Waltz's theory remains a valid template for explaining the conflict and achieving long-term peace.
Keywords
Kosovo War, Multi-Level-Analysis, Kenneth Waltz, Slobodan Milosevic, Ibrahim Rugova, International Relations, Realism, Conflict Resolution, Yugoslavia, NATO, Stability Pact, UN, Ethnic Conflict, Humanitarian Intervention, Power Politics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the 1999 Kosovo War, utilizing Kenneth Waltz’s Multi-Level-Analysis theory to dissect the causes of the conflict and investigate mechanisms for conflict resolution.
Which theoretical framework does the author apply?
The author applies the Realist framework of "Multi-Level-Analysis," which was established by Kenneth Waltz in 1954 to analyze causes of war on three distinct levels: individual, national, and international.
What is the research goal?
The goal is to determine the extent to which Waltz’s theory is applicable to the Kosovo War and to evaluate whether it offers practical insights into resolving such conflicts.
Which research methodology is used?
The paper utilizes a qualitative theoretical analysis, applying Waltz’s structural template to categorize historical events and political behaviors related to the Kosovo conflict.
What does the main body cover?
The main body systematically analyzes political figures (Milosevic and Rugova), national and societal grievances, and the roles of international organizations like the EU, NATO, and the UN.
How are the keywords defined?
The keywords highlight central themes such as the political actors, the theoretical perspective (Realism), and the international organizations involved in the management of the Balkan wars.
Why is Slobodan Milosevic considered a key figure in the "Individual level" chapter?
Milosevic is analyzed as a prototypical Realist actor whose policies relied on creating crises and maintaining a "friend-enemy-scheme" to consolidate power and divert attention from domestic problems.
What role did international organizations play according to the text?
The text argues that many international organizations, such as the OSCE and the UN, were largely ineffective in preventing the outbreak of violence due to organizational inadequacies and political deadlock among member states.
- Citar trabajo
- Bernd Reismann (Autor), 2006, A Level-of-Analysis-approach to the Kosovo-War, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/54800
