The status of Kosovo – reflections on the legitimacy of secession

On 17 February 2008, the province of Kosovo formally declared its independence from Serbia. The most important normative theories of secession—choice theories and just cause theories—appear to justify the creation of a second Albanian state on the Balkans. Kosovo's i...

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Main Author: Frank Dietrich
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2010-05-01
Series:Ethics & Global Politics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.ethicsandglobalpolitics.net/index.php/egp/article/view/1983/5632
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spelling doaj-0fe37172ab184a93a586e58e513f4cfd2020-11-24T21:48:01ZengTaylor & Francis GroupEthics & Global Politics1654-49511654-63692010-05-013212314210.3402/egp.v3i2.1983The status of Kosovo – reflections on the legitimacy of secessionFrank DietrichOn 17 February 2008, the province of Kosovo formally declared its independence from Serbia. The most important normative theories of secession—choice theories and just cause theories—appear to justify the creation of a second Albanian state on the Balkans. Kosovo's independence reflects the will of the vast majority of its inhabitants and can be seen as a remedy for grave human rights violations in the era of Slobodan MiloŠević. Two problems, however, need to be thoroughly discussed. Firstly, the secession of Kosovo may establish a precedent for other separatist conflicts and contribute to the destabilization of south-east Europe and other world regions. Secondly, the new political authorities in Pristina may not be capable to protect the Serb minority against discrimination and repression. It is argued that both problems give no conclusive reasons to reject Kosovo's claim for independence. However, some aspects of the secession, for instance the maintenance of the provincial borders, are considered to be illegitimate. http://www.ethicsandglobalpolitics.net/index.php/egp/article/view/1983/5632drawing of bordersindependencemajority decisionminority protectionprimary right theoriesremedial right theoriesself-determinationsovereigntyterritorial integrity
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Frank Dietrich
spellingShingle Frank Dietrich
The status of Kosovo – reflections on the legitimacy of secession
Ethics & Global Politics
drawing of borders
independence
majority decision
minority protection
primary right theories
remedial right theories
self-determination
sovereignty
territorial integrity
author_facet Frank Dietrich
author_sort Frank Dietrich
title The status of Kosovo – reflections on the legitimacy of secession
title_short The status of Kosovo – reflections on the legitimacy of secession
title_full The status of Kosovo – reflections on the legitimacy of secession
title_fullStr The status of Kosovo – reflections on the legitimacy of secession
title_full_unstemmed The status of Kosovo – reflections on the legitimacy of secession
title_sort status of kosovo – reflections on the legitimacy of secession
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
series Ethics & Global Politics
issn 1654-4951
1654-6369
publishDate 2010-05-01
description On 17 February 2008, the province of Kosovo formally declared its independence from Serbia. The most important normative theories of secession—choice theories and just cause theories—appear to justify the creation of a second Albanian state on the Balkans. Kosovo's independence reflects the will of the vast majority of its inhabitants and can be seen as a remedy for grave human rights violations in the era of Slobodan MiloŠević. Two problems, however, need to be thoroughly discussed. Firstly, the secession of Kosovo may establish a precedent for other separatist conflicts and contribute to the destabilization of south-east Europe and other world regions. Secondly, the new political authorities in Pristina may not be capable to protect the Serb minority against discrimination and repression. It is argued that both problems give no conclusive reasons to reject Kosovo's claim for independence. However, some aspects of the secession, for instance the maintenance of the provincial borders, are considered to be illegitimate.
topic drawing of borders
independence
majority decision
minority protection
primary right theories
remedial right theories
self-determination
sovereignty
territorial integrity
url http://www.ethicsandglobalpolitics.net/index.php/egp/article/view/1983/5632
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