On 17 February 2008, Kosovo declared independence. This event received attention and generated debates around the world. This was, however, not the first time Kosovo received international attention. In fact, Kosovo had been an important issue on the international agenda for more than a decade by then. And the declaration of independence has not ended this, as the recognition of its independent status by other states and international organizations continues to be contested. Although somewhat eclipsed by the focus on Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001, the Kosovo conflict, the international intervention in the conflict, the subsequent international administration of the territory, and its unilateral declaration of independence are still crucial issues at the heart of discussions about humanitarian intervention, international law, and the mandate and functioning of international organizations. It is therefore highly appropriate to consider some of the international negotiations on Kosovo as a case study in this volume.

It is not my aim in this chapter to discuss and explain the various aspects of the Kosovo conflict or the intricacies and consequences of its international administration and declared independence. Instead, I focus more narrowly on some of the key international negotiations on Kosovo, in light of the concepts and hypotheses presented in the Introduction to this volume.

The most significant international negotiations on Kosovo occurred in two episodes. The first episode occurred in the late 1990s, when the conflict escalated and the international community decided – if hesitantly, and not always coherently – to get involved.