Suchergebnisse

One of the basic attributes of statehood apart from the territory, population, and government is international recognition, which defines the capacity of states to enter into relations with other states. Through a comparative method, the main goal of the current research is to analyse the foreign policy of Kosovo as a case study and compare the admission processes of Israel and East Timor, countries with significant similarities to Kosovo's situation and geopolitical context. By analysing the principles of international law concerning state recognition, this research article explores the conditions and policies that could lead Kosovo to be admitted to key international organizations, and particularly to the United Nations. What significance does membership in the United Nations have for the sovereignty and international legitimacy of states, and what is Kosovo's foreign policy approach to prospective admission to the UN? These are the two central research questions, which lead this research analysis. The research assumes that the process of international recognition and membership in international organizations can be accomplished through a better foreign policy strategy and a smart proactive diplomacy. This can be done initially through admission in the UN specialized agencies and the dissemination of fulfilment of normative criteria such as commitment to peace, democracy and respect for human rights and minorities, principles that are crucial in recognizing new states. Through the findings and recommendations, the research aims to contribute to the understanding of foreign policy approaches toward membership in the international organizations, particularly admission of the new states to the United Nations.

Abstract
This research aims to explore the relationship between the universities and political elite formation based on the case study of Kosovo. The key questions raised throughout the research are; how do the universities influence the formation of the political elites and how were the elites changed throughout time? Analysing these relationships in different periods, each with a different impact on the elite building processes, namely from the establishment of the University of Prishtina until recently. Central assumption here is that higher education institutions were the catalyst in the transformation of the political elites. Being a vital source of power, a control over it represents also a struggle for power between the rival forces with different political outcomes. Theoretical framework consists of John Higley approach on the elite formation, based in the context of post-conflict and divided society, such as Kosovo case.

This paper examines the relationship between political power and war remembrance by considering the way war remembrance occurs in a divided society. The purpose of this paper is to explore memory of the violent past and its uses as an ongoing arena of disputes between former adversaries and within ethnopolitical groups pushing their distinct versions of memory. Moreover, this paper examines three key aspects of the politics of remembrance: prevalent narratives, arenas of commemoration, and agencies of war remembrance, based on the case study of Kosovo. The postwar narrative and commemoration in Kosovo have evolved along ethnic lines, perpetuating antagonism and conflicting identities. Memorialization in Kosovo raises serious challenges for comprehensive transitional justice and reconciliation between these ethnic groups. The paper concludes that through appropriate civic education, critical inquiry of commemoration practices, and especially through evidence-based adaptation of the history curriculum, there is a chance to promote a culture of shared memory and to establish inclusive politics of remembrance in Kosovo, as crucial components of reconciliation and peace-building.

Mit der Unabhängigkeitserklärung am 17. Februar 2008 hat sich das Bild des Kosovo als Konfliktherd etwas geändert. Auch die innenpolitischen und soziokulturellen Entwicklungen haben eine neue Perspektive bekommen. Das Land hat seit Kriegsende bereits umfassende und tief greifende Transformationsprozesse durchlaufen. Wenn freie und faire Wahlen ein Grundmerkmal der Demokratie sind, hat das Land diese Prüfung nur teilweise bestanden. So konnten zwar seit der ersten Wahlen im Jahr 2000 mehrere Gemeinde- und Parlamentswahlen ohne Zwischenfälle durchgeführt werden. Insbesondere die Gemeindewahlen von 2009 sowie die Parlamentswahlen von 2010 waren aber durch Wahlbetrug charakterisiert, was wiederum Neuwahlen in mehreren Wahlkreisen im Januar 2011 zur Folge hatte. Der Beitrag versucht die wichtigsten innenpolitischen Akteure und Faktoren der kosovarischen Politik zu benennen und die politischen Parteien und ihre Entwicklung in Hinblick auf Leistungsfähigkeit, politischen Wettbewerb, Beteiligung und Repräsentation der Bürger zu beschreiben. Neben dem Parteiensystem werden auch das Wahlsystem und der Ablauf der bisher stattgefundenen Wahlen ausführlich in dem Beitrag behandelt. (ICA2)