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Europe and the reshaped global order / Working Paper

The Kosovo Statebuilding Conundrum: Addressing Fragility in a Contested State

03/12/2009 By Lucia Montanaro

Kosovo is critically weak and flawed on a number of axes. This paper aims to deepen the understanding of the factors and processes which have led to the fragilities in Kosovo, examine the role of international actors and glean certain insights to improve international and local governance. Effective statebuilding needs to be context-based and have a sustainable peacebuilding approach.

This paper argues that despite the complex challenges of statebuilding in a contested state, international actors need to address the weaknesses and support the processes to reduce those fragilities. Contrary to the transitional governance practices on the ground, this needs to be undertaken with courage and long-term vision. External efforts have failed to address the underlying causes of conflict and state weakness, prioritising short-term security at the price of long-term sustainable peace and economic development.

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Keywords

Europe Fragile state Kosovo State building Western Balkans

Related publications

• Kosovo: From International Province to State?
• Making Kosovo work

Bio author: Lucia Montanaro

Lucia Montanaro is an independent consultant who specialises in the EU and UN, conflict prevention and peacebuilding, early warning, fragility, governance, statebuilding, development and organised crime.