KOSOVO | Time for Partition?

In May 2023, significant clashes broke out in Kosovo when the central government in Pristina tried to impose ethnic Albanian mayors in the predominantly Serb-inhabited north. The resulting fighting led to over 40 NATO peacekeepers being injured and saw the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, heavily criticised by the United States and the European Union for destabilising regional peace and security. All this has once again highlighted the desperate need for a full and final agreement between Serbia and Kosovo. But while attention has long been focused on some form of autonomy, has the time come to reconsider a more radical option? Partition.
Following the collapse of Yugoslavia, Kosovo's declaration of independence in February 2008 has left the International community bitterly divided. However, it has also seen divisions within Kosovo. While ethnic Serbs in the central and southern parts of Kosovo accept the new state of affairs, the Serbs in the north have acknowledged Pristina's authority. However, calls for the four northern regions - Leposavic, Zvecan, Zubin Potok, and North Mitrovica - to be handed over to Serbia's control as part of a wider territorial adjustment, or 'land-swap', between Serbia and Kosovo has been steadfastly rejected by many Western countries. Indeed, talks aimed at a settlement based on this option in 2018 were blocked by Britain and Germany. Instead, international efforts have been directed towards autonomy in the form of an Association of Serb Municipalities. But a decade after the idea was first proposed, no progress has been made on the issue. Given the ongoing problems, is it time to revisit a territorial settlement that would finally allow Kosovo to gain full international acceptance and allow Serbia to move on?
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VIDEO CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:44 Autonomy versus Partition in Kosovo
01:58 Kosovo: Population and Location
03:00 Kosovo within Serbia and Yugoslavia
03:56 Kosovo Independence Campaign
04:57 The Kosovo Status Process
06:10 The Question of Northern Kosovo
09:04 The Need for a Final Kosovo Settlement
10:22 The Case for a Territorial Adjustment or Land Swap
12:36 The Wider Benefits of Partition
14:06 Is It Time to Discuss Partition?
SOURCES AND FURTHER READING
Kosovo | Prime Minister's Office
kryeministri.rks-gov.net/en/p...
Serbia | Office for Kosovo and Metohija
www.kim.gov.rs/eng/
UN Security Council Resolution 1244 (1999)
peacemaker.un.org/sites/peace...
Ahtisaari Status proposals
www.securitycouncilreport.org...
Association of Serb Municipalities | General Principles | EU
eeas.europa.eu/archives/docs/...
Dragon's Teeth: Tales from North Kosovo
amzn.to/42CVpXH
EQUIPMENT USED TO MAKE THIS VIDEO
kit.co/JamesKerLindsay
DISCLAIMERS
- The contents of this video and any views expressed in it were not reviewed in advance nor determined by any outside persons or organisation.
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#Kosovo #Serbia #Partition

[@JamesKerLindsay]

This is a topic I have followed for a very long time. It is obviously highly controversial, but following recent clashes in North Kosovo, is it time to have an honest conversation about it? It seems to come down to a choice between this and autonomy for the Kosovo Serbs. So, what should it be? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts and comments.

[@theconqueringram5295]

Partition may just be the best course of action here.

[@atlaszane]

Totally agree! Partition of the north, while the south gets autonomy and Serbian cultural heritage sites remain protected.

[@jakef.7126]

Absolutely unmentioned: Vucic is provoking violence to distract from protests against him due to massacres against children under his watch. Vucic and his party must be punished for starting violence, bussing in criminals and orchestrating these events. THIS IS NOT a Kosova Serb problem, this is a Vucic problem. A distraction! Many Serbs live peacefully with ethnic Albanians in Kosova. We must not let SNS and Vucic use Milosevic tactics to crackdown on dissent against him. A consolidated Vucic will keep Serbia as a violent, volatile and hostile state regardless of what Kosova and other neighbours do.

[@jakef.7126]

@@theconqueringram5295 Just give in to Vucic terrorism. Your ideas will lead to more violence in the Balkans.

[@jakef.7126]

@@atlaszane Sure, then Serbs can start attacking ethnic Romanians, Hungarians and gypsies in Serbia. The problem is Vucic and Serbia.

[@davidlegrice4207]

It would be useful to hear an explanation of why the international community keeps treating the internal borders of a country as if they had the same sacrosanct status as international borders before a new country is created from them. They did this both for Kosovo and as a condition for the recognition of Croatian and Bosnian independence despite claiming to value democracy and knowing full well that failure to democratically determine the borders of new states is one of the biggest sources of conflict in the modern world.

[@tombuddy100]

Borders were clearly changed after WWII, and also internal borders between YU republics were (re)defined, but borders changing today is frowned upon for some reason.

[@luka1431]

Except they do not really, they support local allied friendly governments and their interests and goals, regardless of how this affects borders, if they treated borders as sacrosanct as you claim, Kosovo, Taiwan, South Vietnam/Korea would never exist.

[@SerbAtheist]

Neoliberalists don't care. They consistently chose their abstract ideas of 'liberalism' over true democracy. They barely tolerate mononethnic states as it is, which is why they encourage migration into Western Europe. As such, the 'multiethnicity' of Bosnia and Kosovo is their pet project. At this point it's personal, the failure of their ridiculous policies in the Balkans that have caused so much bloodshed would be all the more apparent if they ever gave in to rational solutions that actually produced long-term peace.

[@mojewjewjew4420]

​@@secretname4190 Thats really stupid, the eternal status quo only benefita the elites.

[@mendesjosr4438]

The key date is 1945 with the signature of the UN Charter. That is the legal document that creates the principle that the borders of a country can only be moved for reasons of self determination of a people. This is intent on removing territorial gain as a prise for military aggression from a stronger state on a smaller one and guess what...it worked. And yes, we have had plenty of conflicts since 1945 but much less than we could have had as States are no longer invading neighbours for provinces (except mad Russia now). And I invite you to see things like this. The US is the strongest military power in the world. It has on top of that a very strong alliance supporting it. It has used this power often enough to "protect its interests" via military interventions. But note that the US has not annexed bits of the countries it has invaded that could have been useful to them. It would have been easy for them to invade oil producing territories or important canals (note the Suez crisis,) etc ethnically cleanse those territories and annex them. So what you think is a failed and hypocritical international order is still better and safer than what you had before 1945.

[@Curt_Johnston]

I always thought that this solution made the most sense. These ethnic groups have a long, brutal and complex history. The animosity that these people feel towards each other isn’t going away and the best solution for a prolonged peace is separation.

[@user-ol7yi4lk5t]

Albanians and Serbs never had problems until last 30 yers whan USA/NATO kriminals came to balkans. Thay use Albanian mafia from kosovo for heroin trade ..its all abouth the monay.

[@luka1431]

​@@secretname4190 1) The current Albanian government is firmly against it, you would have to force their hand. 2) As the video presenter already stated, this would not set a precedent, but build on it. The precedent was set when Serbia itself was partitioned to give Kosovo independence.

[@australiaprisonisland9156]

@@secretname4190 Then how does he propose to fix the mess in Bosnia and potentially even Macedonia, Montenegro and even Serbia itself.

[@australiaprisonisland9156]

@@luka1431 The precedent was set when the Serb dominated Yugoslav State forfeited her rights to govern by allowing the mass murder of innocents. Women and children included!!!

[@luka1431]

@@secretname4190 Yes that is what I meant. You cannot negotiate with the current regime in Pristina on this particular issue, they centered the goal of stopping any partition or autonomy in the North in their political platform, you would have to exert a lot of pressure to get them to budge on that, or outright do regime change.

[@anarcho-boulangistllamaent2023]

I have to admit, purely from a standpoint of international law, accepting Kosovo as an independent state is highly problematic. I think a partition plan might make sense. However, you could then also argue that Bosnia should be broken up as well since that state is a giant mess too because of its political system.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. From a legal point of view, Kosovo's independence was indeed highly problematic. But, interestingly and importantly, Bosnia's independence and continued territorial integrity is fully consistent with international law. The question we face is how to regularise Kosovo's status (as an independent state) so that it falls into line with accepted legal principles. An agreement with Serbia is key to this. The question is what will Kosovo be willing to do to get that? Autonomy for the Kosovo Serbs or a territorial agreement?

[@anarcho-boulangistllamaent2023]

@@JamesKerLindsay I think the Western countries (especially the US) will be key to convicing (or perhaps forcing) Kosovo to reach an agreement with Serbia. And Im not saying Bosnia should be broken up because its territorial integrity is problematic, but rather bc I cant ever see it joining Western institutions like the EU or NATO as long as it keeps its current political system.

[@milostomic8539]

​@@anarcho-boulangistllamaent2023 No partition and no agreements.Entire Kosovo belongs to Serbia.If Crimea is Ukrainian then Kosovo is Serbian.

[@yellowwasprakija2869]

I’d suggest that we first partition the UK a little. A bit of independence for Scotland, Wales etc, maybe we split England itself into smaller states again as well

[@NovikNikolovic]

​@@milostomic8539but Crimea is Greek

[@ryanpatrick4920]

That makes too much sense for West Europeans to consider. It would be too fair as well; if one country gets independence when it was a minority, it would be too fair and justifiable if the minority of the former minority gets their independence as well.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. Sadly, there has been too little good sense on this issue from all sides for far too long. It is a shame. We really need to see this issue resolved. And the other option - autonomy - is proving to be just as unpopular. Let's just treat it as a special case all round as we have now crossed that line anyway.

[@tombuddy100]

If Serbs in the north really got independent, they would immediatelly join Serbia (because that is what they actually want), whereas the rest of Kosovo would immediatelly seek to join Albania (because that is what they actually want).

[@badhombre4683]

Albanians were never a minority in Kosovo. Serbs at their highest concentration in Kosovo back in the 1960s constituted only about 20% of the population, after which their numbers start declining rapidly. This is all despite the importation of Serbs into Kosovo by the Serb/Yugoslav government over centuries. So much for the argument that “Kosovo is a heart of Serbia.” Now Serbs constitute about 2-4% of the population but have essentially veto powers in the constitution. I don’t see Germany grant it’s Turkish community which makes up 4% of the population there any resemblance of such power.

[@mojewjewjew4420]

​@@JamesKerLindsay Aka western hypocracy gets a slap on the wrist but if others do it then its war,disgusting.

[@deadend2023]

@@JamesKerLindsay you think this will be the end. This is what Serbia wants. Is not Serbian goal North Kosovo, but partition of the Bosnia. Once you partition north of Kosovo, you will have chain reaction in Bosnia by Serbs, Croats and than Albanians in Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro and so on. I will tell you now as Albanian, if north Kosovo becomes part of Serbia, Albanians from Macedonia will want same. Why is Serbia using Kosovo, is easier to justify change of borders that will open doors in other parts of ex-Yu to change borders. These currently are Yugoslavian borders, and this is how it needs to remain. If changes begins, this leads to new wars. Not to talk, that Kosovo will no accept north to leave without war, that will involve Albania as NATO member. I will tell you one thing, situation in North Kosovo is not impacting rest of Kosovo in economical or political. Kosovo is not recognized by many counties and still has one of highest economical growth in Balkan. Other countries in Balkan might have higher GDP, but wealth distribution is much better in Kosovo. Not to mention, that insecurity in Kosovo has allowed economy to be run by local businesses, not as in other countries in Balkan owned by foreign companies.

[@toagonel7045]

I’ve long thought that this would be such a logical solution, and never understood why some dismissed it as quickly as they have.

[@RobespierreThePoof]

There's a kind of Balkans Domino theory that goes, "change one border and you'll have every other enclave and exclave shooting each other to have their own border change". It's not without good reason, but like you I'm also skeptical of the way this policy has been pursued. Cautiously skeptical. If the entire region can be folded into Schengen, the Eurozone and the EU, surely *some* minor border changes might actually move the Balkans forward. "Make the borders matter less" has always been a better idea than "No more border redrawing!"

[@bilic8094]

​@@RobespierreThePoof So than leave the borders how they are under un resolution 1244 that ended the conflict states kosovo remains part of Serbia.

[@waynejohnson1786]

@@bilic8094 That’s unrealistic and at this point simply allowing Serb majority areas to rejoin Serbia is the best solution.

[@MarkVrem]

I guess from the Serbian perspective letting Kosovo go would be equal to Spain letting the Emirate of Granada remain during the Reconquista. As a child, I also thought partition made the most sense. But considering Israel and Palestine still haven't figured it out. I can resign that most of us will die of old age before this is settled.

[@jackarta6840]

You should read what Serbian academics (the Academy of Science, very influential in Serbian politics) have been planning and advocating for for years and then you will find out. In their view, the north of Kosovo is only the first step into the establishment of the Serbian World (Srpski Svet). They just want to use the north of Kosovo to set a precedent that they can use in Bosnia and Montenegro - basically to violently break up Bosnia and then force Montenegro to join Serbia. They feel that they will be okay with losing Kosovo (minus its north) if they get half of Bosnia and Montenegro as compensation. In fact, Serbia has been using this argument for ages now - if Kosovo can declare independence, why can't Republika Srpska in Bosnia do the same? The West always told them "Republika Srpska cannot do the same because it was established via the Dayton agreement and Kosovo is a special case (Sui generis), no new independences will be allowed based on its precedent". Serbs think that Kosovo is indeed a precedent, and if not, then the north of Kosovo will certainly be one. That's why people familiar with the region are dismissing the idea so quickly. They know what it entails. They know it will bring new wars in Europe. Unfortunately, Prof. Ker-Lindsay unwittingly joined the pro-war camp, by advocating for something that to him, as an academic, makes sense. Except that he is missing the forest for the trees, something that academics often do.

[@TheLocalLt]

Thanks for the video Dr Ker Lindsay! You certainly make a strong case for partition as perhaps the least problematic option. I’d be worried about how it would actually play out though, regardless of guarantees that it will not be a population exchange. Arranging the security of the minority communities on both sides of the border, both of those who want to stay and those who want to move, in the case such a territorial exchange would be of paramount importance. From my lay man’s perspective, it would seem this could prove difficult, given the level of distrust by the two communities with each other’s security forces. International troops might be an option, but the country would have to be chosen very carefully. Obviously there are significant risks associated with any potential solution though. Hopefully for now at least the progress of calming the current upheaval will continue. As you mentioned in your community post, it seems like the West is ushering Pristina to be more accommodating. Will definitely continue to follow this situation Thanks as always professor!

[@edmundflett474]

Superb video Dr Ker-Lindsay. I think a land swap is the only plausible route to a full normalisation agreement (as opposed to a 'modus vivendi' agreement, falling short of that). Formally recognising Kosovo's secession would incur an enormous political cost on any Serbian government. Unless some kind of territorial reclamation from Kosovo is on the table, what incentive would a Serbian government have to bear that additional cost, when they have the perfectly good option of de facto normalisation instead? On a semantic point, I think it's best to use the terms 'land swap' or 'border adjustment'. Partition has a troublesome ring to it, (Ireland; Palestine; India, etc.). And as you rightly point out, whether it's Serbia or Kosovo that would be partitioned in this case is a matter of perspective! And lastly, it's interesting that you draw on the successful GFA as a precedent to support the possibility of a peace deal here. Given that land swaps are likely essential to remaining prospects of an Israeli-Palestinian final status agreement (I wrote my master's thesis on this very topic!), a successful swap in the Balkans could in turn prove an optimistic precedent for the I-P conflict!

[@Stamboul]

"Border adjustment" means you're adjusting the border (obviously), but a border is something that exists between independent countries, so the term could be rejected by Belgrade for implying that Kosovo was already independent before this hypothetical agreement. "Land swap" might be rejected under the same reasoning. If you're trying to be diplomatic, better terms would be "boundary adjustment" (unlike a border, a boundary can exist both between any 2 territorial entities) or "border agreement" (whether it's an agreement to establish a border or an agreement to shift a border is something the 2 sides would be free to disagree on).

[@edmundflett474]

Border - 'A line separating two countries, administrative divisions, or other areas.' There's a reason 'international border' is not just a tautology. All sides acknowledge the presence of some kind of border between Serbia and Kosovo, in the same location as during the Yugoslav period. Nothing in the term 'land swap' presupposes that both of the parties are states: 'A land exchange or land swap is the exchange of land between two parties, typically a private owner and a government. These parties may include farmers, estate owners, nature organizations, and governments. Land swaps may also take place between two sovereign nations for practical, geographical or economic reasons.' That said, I agree that 'boundary agreement' or 'border agreement' could also work. But in my view, 'land swap' is the best formulation, because it sounds the most reciprocal. It frames as mutually beneficial an arrangement primarily intended to benefit Belgrade and the Kosovo Serbs, (ethnic Albanians in southern Serbia are not agitating for Kosovan sovereignty).

[@Stamboul]

@@edmundflett474 That is the broad definition of border, which is the same as that of boundary. There's also the narrow definition, which is the same as that of international border. A land swap is something you engage in with an entity of equal rank. From the Serbian perspective, this agreement would amount to them giving up an integral part of their territory and "graciously" allowing the creation of an independent Kosovo in that part. The Serbs would resist anything that would amount to a retroactive recognition of an independent Kosovo prior to that point. That may well include the term "land swap." You're certainly not going to convince Serbs to go along with it by framing it as a objectively beneficial agreement with an already independent Kosovo. You'll have to sell it as them giving up something they have no chance of taking back from the Albanians (most of Kosovo) in exchange for securing a part of Serbia that the Albanians also want (northern Kosovo) and the prospect of improving Serbia's position in the world.

[@saint-miscreant]

i agree, when i first saw the word ‘partition’ i got a bit concerned - the term simply has too many recent historical wounds associated with it. i also think that ‘partition’ has the connotation of an externally imposed border, and also a tinge of colonial given how many of these partitions involve the british… ‘land swap’ is more neutral and allows for the parties to assert their autonomy more, which i think is necessary to get broad support for such a settlement

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Yes. I’d have preferred to use the term territorial adjustment. But sadly, YT rewards a little bit of sensationalism.

[@andreastveranger1331]

This topic is very complicated. The issue here is not that partition is imposseble , it is possible. The problem is that there seem to be people that dosen't want it to happen, or that the conflict should end.

[@AL-lh2ht]

Russia

[@milostomic8539]

​@@AL-lh2ht Sure, blame Russia. Kosovo is not Russian territory.Its Serbian.

[@enesbeqiri5340]

​@@AL-lh2ht last time partition was suggested both sides accepted it as the speaker said UK and germany refused it. So 1 may ask the question as to what business is it of them to intervene in this situation. Thos probpem is between us and the serbs so again it raises a question why refuse a deal that may actualy bring peace to the 2 nations. So no its not RUSSIA as much as people may want to point fingers

[@bilic8094]

The status quo will remain this suggestion won't happen the partition or land swap whatever you call it and the Albanians will continue to harras the local Serb population until the opportunity presents itself and than there's gonna be hell to pay.

[@louvendran7273]

There is town called Walvis Bay that had been part of the Cape Colony before Germany colonised the rest of Namibia. Obviously from World War I, South Africa held dominion over the territory and after the 2nd War it governed it as a 5th province. The National government had the "old" colonial mindset to keep as much territory as possible. Therefore once Namibian talks for cessation & independence began. South Africa held on to Walvis Bay. In 1994, once Mandela took over he quietly handed the territory over. That greed for territory is one of the reasons Kwa-Zulu is not an independent country as Chief Buthelezi request Richards Bay to be included but they refused as the mining operations in the town was the largest revenue generator for neighbouring Natal.

[@sulaak]

Mandela did the right thing in handing Walvis Bay to its original owner and territory, Namibia. That is how you avoid war and conflict.

[@nurshatkalimullin5190]

The one thing I do not get. If Belgrade and Pristina will agree to swap territories in exchange for Kosovo's independence why Germany and Britain overrule it? It is the decision of two nations how they draw borders between them. How could someone from outside could possibly have a deciding vote in this situation?

[@jamesgarner327]

Not every one wants peace in the Balkans.

[@dzumhurbaskan]

Divide et impera. That is centuries old Austrian/German politics toward Balkan. They want everyone alienated against Serbs as biggest and most organised nation that could take region towards sovereign politics as it did with Yugoslavia(Non-Aligned Movement). Unfortunately for Balkan in 90's they got onboard US and UK, and now we have this mess that constantly creates need for meddling. Milosevic and his bulldozer politics gave them excuse they needed. Todays Serbia learned lessons and is taking much smarter politics. It's bit funny when US officials talks about Russian and Chinese malign influence in region when western countries have way more leverage in the region not to mention military presence, now again increased after last brawl in North Kosovo.

[@user-lm9zi7je8h]

Do you really believe the big powers care about the well being of people

[@joseywales148]

Kurti will Never agree to partition… The Drenica Region would Never allow this to happen… only Cafe Society- The Prishtina Crowd would accept this nonsense

[@bilic8094]

A couple of Serbian politicians have mentioned it in the past like dacic and dodik.

[@Rainst0rm4759]

I think at this point, any settlement is better than no settlement--the status quo is untenable. Kosovars will insist that any Serb autonomy/land transfer will instantly turn the country into Bosnia, and Serbs will insist that there is no deal short of Serbia gaining total control over Kosovo as sovereign territory. Not only are both these positions based completely outside of reality, their only end point is a bloody war that leaves both sides worse off. It's ultimately a choice of dying pointless in the name of nationalism or getting the dispute off the table so both countries can focus on actually improving the lives of their citizens.

[@ronald3836]

Well said.

[@seneca983]

"their only end point is a bloody war that leaves both sides worse off" Perpetual limbo is another possibility (though that's technically not an end point).

[@mojewjewjew4420]

Pathetic "arguments" from an ignorant outsider but what can you expect from anime pfp.

[@svetlananikolic265]

@@seneca983 No such independent country, no Kosovar ethnic group: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_sovereign_states

[@seneca983]

@@svetlananikolic265 Did you mean to reply to OP (Rainst0rm) rather than me? In any case, Kosovo is de facto independent at the moment; I don't plan on commenting on whether that is legitimate or not. The biggest ethnic group in Kosovo is Albanians.

[@timbtamgomez9110]

I can't believe I haven't found your channel sooner. Your videos are so well made, edited, sounding, and obviously extensive about the topic at hand. I have been binging your videos so much! Keep it up!

[@tordsteiro9838]

Heh, I've thought for almost 20 years, that partition was the logical conclusion. But it was, to a great extent, a conclusion based on feelings rather than hard factual scrutiny of the matter. Thanks for this factualt breakdown of the matter, much appreciated 🙂

[@occasionalwind]

North Kosovo is super rich in minerals which is untapped yet and is worth millions and millions of dollars. Serbs can not heavy our (Albanian) land and the gold sitting below it which is worth billions of dollars.

[@bilic8094]

​@@occasionalwind Just wait till the Russias say go the croatian/nato model is coming.

[@occasionalwind]

@@bilic8094 Croatian model for Serbs in Kosovo like the Serbs in Croatia will work for now. But the forced Bosnian model with their problematic Republika Srpska in Bosnia is a big NO. Because of the Republika Srpska Bosnia is a non-functional country today. On your line that Russia is coming to the Balkans is a big NO - all the Russia has right now in the Balkans is the Slavicized Iranians which we know them as Serbs today and they will be forced by the West to abandon that master & slave relationship. Soon Russia will go like Yugoslavia did - downsized and fractured in many new countries which Russia has held hostage for centuries.

[@bilic8094]

​@@occasionalwindHowever bad you think Bih is it's still better than having a caliphate in the center of europe and Serbs have no choice but to align with Russia and China after all we don't have the luxury of being protected by nato like others we know.

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

@@occasionalwind Those riches belong to the Serbs, as it in the territory they own.

[@weepingscorpion8739]

My, my, Professor Ker-Lindsay, when you said that your next video would be on a controversial subject, you were not kidding. That said though, yes, if this can be made to work, it's surely the best solution. And yes, border adjustments are definitely not an uneuropean thing. I believe Slovakia and Poland had some slight adjustments in the very late 20th or very early 21st century, and there were even talks in Norway about giving some land to Finland on its 100th year of independence, until they realised that it would have required a constitutional amendment which would have taken too long so the issue was dropped. I did notice the UK not being too keen on adjustment and I can definitely see that. Despite the Good Friday agreement, and even if all British PMs show good will towards it, surely no PM would like to be called the PM who lost all or parts of Northern Ireland. As a Faroese, I can sympathise with this as during the Faroese indenpendence negotiations at the turn of the millennium, people suspected the then Danish PM's, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen's, hard no-compromise solution to be a consequence of him not wanting to be remembered as the PM who lost the Faroes. It seems that no matter how small or seemingly inconsequential a territory is, losing it is always something that will define your PM-ship or presidency no matter what else you achieve. Maybe I'm reading too much into that but it did strike me as a similarity. Of course, yes, borders in the Balkans are always a touchy subject and eyes then always go back to Bosnia and Herzegovina. So thanks for this video. I will continue following this subject as I do find it very interesting.

[@waynejohnson1786]

I’ve always argued for partition, Serbs majority areas are a small percentage of Kosovo’s overall territory and I think it’s best for everyone to allow them to rejoin Serbia.

[@diellibetim]

What about Albanian majority regions of Serbia!

[@mikaelvalter-lithander1247]

​@@diellibetim Swap

[@diellibetim]

@@mikaelvalter-lithander1247 Tha would be a good solution but then what about Albanians stuck in Macedonia? What about Albanians stuck in Montenegro in majority areas? All this would make sense only if whole Balkan region either comes in EU as a whole or all the majority areas get attached to their real countries. Like Macedonian albanian parts to Albania. If we talking only for Kosovo and Serbia after that serbia would still not stop and they would try more to get more

[@borisboskovski3058]

@Betim Hyseni what about macedonian inhabited regions of albania like pustec Mala prespa and golo brdo ? What about the gorani population of kosovo? What about the Greek albanians of albania or the orthodox albanians of albania how will they feel being in a 90% Muslim country ? Were r u from betim

[@borisboskovski3058]

​@Betim Hyseni and also albanians "stuck" in macedonia would probably want to stay in macedonia , they have more rights here then ethnic macedonians aha, why would they join albania and be a nobody when they can stay in macedonia and be a boss , the corrupt uck run government of macedonia gives everything to albanians and nothing for macedonians

[@SerbLawyer92]

As a Serb, I think that separation is good solution. As you said, neither Albanians can't control north, neither Serbs want to be ruled by Albanians. But the another issue is the problem with Serbs in other parts of Kosovo. Will they be moved to the north or remain in these other enclaves? And for us Serbs, Kosovo is some kind of motherland because of our religion and monasteries and I guess we would like those monasteries and churches along with other Serbs to be protected (we don't want another unrest like March unrest in 2004). But I don't think this scenario is likely to happen because of the regimes both here in Serbia and Kosovo. Kurti and Vucic are hardcore nationalists (which they do not show in front) and I see this happening with another governments who are willing to sit down and find normal solutions. There was enough blood shedding between us and Albanians (for which I believe that we are connected historically, for example Skenderbeg and other people) and we need to find good solution for both parties. I am 30 years old and me and people of my age and younger are tired of this Kosovo question and this status quo.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks, Milan. You are right. There are other important questions that need to be addressed. But as I said in the video, whatever the solution, the Serbs in the South will still have to have their rights respected in line with internationally agreed principles. And the question of the Churches is also vital. But I believe all this can be settled if the essential political will is there to do a final deal that will finally put the Kosovo issue to bed and allow Belgrade and Pristina to have a normal open relationship as neighbours.

[@enesbeqiri5340]

As a albanian. I agree. If these old grizzly politicians have their way then it is me and you and future generations who will just carry on the bloodshed. I want nothing but peace. As im a firm believer of every people deserves to be united with its people. I believe the solution is the partition. And as for the holy serb places within kosovo should and MUST be protected aswell as the minority sebrs.

[@Tony-zg4yf]

So what happens next? Peace? I dont think so. Both serbs and albanians ( Im albanian) have a distorted narrative about themselves and eachother. Both claim to be the victim and never tell what they have done.

[@enesbeqiri5340]

@@Tony-zg4yf its either we learb to live in peace or the other alternative is war. Its becoming more clearer and clearer that thers no middle ground

[@Balkanese]

This is not only a kosovo problem this is a balkan problem. The balkan have to much nationalisim and to much ethnic politic. You have the same problems in greece, bosnia, serbia,albania, croatia etc. Nobody like the another and everbody thinks his peopel are the best with the biggest history. The balkan peopel talks about future and changes but support ultra nationalisim like in the 90s. I am a albanian and i am proud about my roots but this is no reasson to discrimitated another peopel or another religions. Serbs need the same rights in the kosovo and the same status like the albanians. I know the most serbs dont like the option to accept the kosovo as a own state and republic and its not easy for them because they have big history in kosovo too. I dont wanna talk about the crimes in the war this is a seperate thing, i think the peopel of kosovo, must accept this is a multiehtnic state with a lot of nations not only albanians and serbs. And they need to make a compromis, they have not a another choice when they wanna a good future with each other

[@Trofusky]

Professor, what do you think are the chances an independent Kosovo joins Albania? I know you made a video of the two making a union state a few years back, do you still think it's a route Kosovo would be willing to take?

[@gledianlalushllari9577]

He has mentioned it before, he has said that it's unlikely because otherwise will cause a chain reaction in other countries in the Balkans.

[@ronald3836]

@@gledianlalushllari9577 I would think that if ever a solution is found that lets Serbia and most other countries recognise an independent Kosovo (in whatever shape or form), there is not much which could stop Albania and Kosovo from forming a single country if they should both wish to. (But I have no idea how likely any of this is.)

[@FlamingBasketballClub]

Nah. It's the Balkans nigga. 💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀💀

[@bld7549]

You cannot argue that partition is the solution and leave the unification with Albania out of the equation, it would be foolish to partition Kosova and stop them to unify with Albania, that would mean only one thing: war!

[@svansy]

Albania is struggling but finally going through an economic upswing - unification processes cost A LOT - something that Albania can't afford. Albania is recognized by everyone - Kosovo not - taking Kosovo in would cause Albania to lose business because of politics. Albania would get enemies (has none today) Albania would be forced to resolve the conflict in this video. Albania would need to pay for Kosovan welfare and not gain much in return. it really isn't worth it for Albania.

[@joeblack5393]

I also must commend JK-L on his pronunciation of those municipalities, it was spot on, something i know is extremely difficult for your average anglo :O

[@photon1899]

I think he speaks the language, so thats probably why!

[@joeblack5393]

@@photon1899 Hes been here and has contacts with locals, but afaik he does not.

[@photon1899]

@@joeblack5393 according to his LinkedIn, he has limited working knowledge of the language :)

[@CynicalLemonade]

Ooh… this one’s going to lead to scuffles in the comments…

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Indeed. That’s what I rather worry about. But it is an important topic. And something I’ve been writing about for years. It seems like the best solution to ‘solve’ Kosovo. But it is controversial.

[@bretedwards2899]

@@JamesKerLindsay If you are in favor of partition for Kosovo due to ethnic differences then the minorities in Serbia should have the same option. There are a lot of majority - minority ethnic issues in countless counties, are you saying they should also be partitioned. It is a dishonest assessment of Geopolitics when selectively allowing which areas get that option while denying others. A more honest POV would focus on ensuring that minority rights or even local autonomy take place to ensure domestic tranquility.

[@unreliablenarratorz2772]

By saying that partition may only be the viable solution, you are promoting hardline nationalist extremists when they say that multiculturalism can never work and that only ethno-states can achieve international stability. In order to have true stability, the concept of the nation-state needs to be abolished, and I fail to see how this solution would be a productive example in the long-term…

[@JamesKerLindsay]

@@bretedwards2899 I’m not sure what you are arguing. You seem to be making the case that Kosovo should never have broken away from Serbia. Or are you arguing that the Serbs can’t break away from Kosovo? Either way, they are contradictory. That’s the whole problem. Kosovo has created a contradictory mess in the name of a ‘unique case’. I am arguing for a ‘unique settlement’ that reconciles those two contradictory positions.

[@dzumhurbaskan]

James what is UK diplomats opinion about partition? Officially they are very against it but I'm wondering unofficially?

[@deepinthewoods8078]

Repartitioning is always tricky, but in this case it sounds like a perfectly reasonable solution, and should be acceptable and face-saving for all involved parties: Serbia, Kosovars and the Serb inhabitants of the 4 communities...

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. I agree. It isn't necessarily easy. And there will have to be other issues that are sorted out, such as the situation regarding the Serbs in central and southern Kosovo, the Albanians in Serbia, and the important religious sites. But all this can be sorted out if the political will for an agreement exists.

[@philsidock]

Thank you for addressing this controversial topic. I'm moving to Belgrade soon, and I've discussed this topic with a number of Serbians (I don't generally bring it up), and I think it's important to listen to the various perspectives. Framing the conversation in a historical context is a great starting point. 👍

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks so much, Phil. The move to Belgrade should be fascinating. It’s a great city. But it took a little time to grow on me. (I know Novi Sad much better.) It will also be interesting to hear the views on the ground. However, like you, I don’t generally bring it up. It is indeed still a very sore point.

[@philsidock]

@Prof James Ker-Lindsay Thank you! My goal is to fully immerse myself and learn Serbian (I speak intermediate Russian, so that will help), so I want to be in the economic centre of Serbia. Also, Novi Sad is absolutely beautiful, and I'm looking forward to returning there. But I want to live in Belgrade and travel throughout Serbia. 👍 Thank you for your reply, and keep making your great videos!

[@JamesKerLindsay]

@@philsidock Thanks. Good luck with the move over there! :-)

[@bilic8094]

It's seems a lot of people from the UK and the US now live in Belgrade and Novi sad.

[@philsidock]

@B Ilic I'm curious to see how many Brits, Americans and Canadians are there because I'm unsure. I'll let you know! ;)

[@_Itchy_Bones_]

I'm a firm believer in self-determination and to me that includes the Serbs living in Kosovo. Especially for the Serbian majority provinces on the border with Serbia, there is no reason they can't be allowed to rejoin Serbia if that's so clearly what they want. The isolated b towards the south east would be a bit more difficult but that is where the debate should start. There is no reason to hold hostile border provinces hostage because it just invites more incidents like the ones that have been going on for the past 2 decades. But anyways great coverage as always

[@maskinisten019]

Then southeastern Serbia, where Albanians are majority can join Kosovo then

[@_Itchy_Bones_]

@@maskinisten019 deal

[@tombuddy100]

@@20years20 😄No, it is Kosovo Albanians that talk about even Nish being "historically" Albanian.

[@tombuddy100]

@@20years20 See. And you are accusing Serbs of wanting what they believe has been historically theirs? You are no different.

[@tombuddy100]

@@20years20 I am not disputing that Kosovo should be independent, but that is "thanks to" Ottomans, whose conquests made a mess in the Balkans.

[@andrewsarantakes639]

Thanks for this video. A truly difficult problem set and partition is a logical solution; but the fear is of precedence creates a Pandora's Box effect, which in turn disrupts political stability in other nations. The casus belli that precedence creates and the "willful" changes of borders that political leaders would seek as redress for historical events would result in a world filled with chaos. But at this point in Kosovo situation partition is the only solution, and foresee the dissolving of Kosovo into a greater Albanian state can be expected. As always thanks for the strong academic based content you provide.

[@benweb1105]

"yes" partition of Serbia is the true solution!

[@timor64]

7:55 - "Britain and Germany steadfastly rejected any talk of changing borders" What right do they have to decide whether or not this can go ahead? Territory swaps happened on occasion between the GDR and West Berlin. That wa a more complex situation because it needed the approval of 6 governments - the two Germanys + the Four Powers. If it could be done then, it can be done now.

[@pam1974argentina]

It is a pity that in the video, having mentioned the interests that Russia may have in the region, the interests of the USA - NATO are not mentioned there, nor is the Camp Bondsteel base of the USA inside Kosovo considered the largest US base in the world created from scratch since the Vietnam war outside of US soil. ( Wikipedia ) This conflict, like the one in Ukraine, cannot be analyzed as between two countries - parties, but within the US-NATO colonialist expansion to the east.

[@bernd_das_brot6911]

Lol what? This video is not about Serbia taking back kosovo, so the western ineterests don’t matter here, they’re getting what they want wether this deal goes through or not. And It’s not really colonialist expansion if the people want it? If Russia attacks its neighbours don’t be surprised when those neighbours look for a way out.

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

@@bernd_das_brot6911 The problem is that the Kosovo precedent has incentivized Russia to invade other states, and create breakaway regions/states on so called humanitarian grounds. The creation and Russian recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia mirrors the creation and international recognition of Kosovo. All cases were made possible by external intervention. Ditto the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the annexation of 5 regions of Ukraine (Crimea, Luhansk, Donbass, Zaporozhe and Kherson).

[@drenicasi345]

Dear Prof James Ker-Lindsay, Thank you for your work, I would first like to excuse my English. My Native Language is German and Albanian. Swapping territory isn't a bad idea, but there are two major obstacles on the albanian side. The Ujmani-Lake (srb: Gazivoda-Lake) and the Trepca-Mines. Vital to the people of Kosovo, Lake Ujmani is located in the north of the country. Be it for the water supply or for cooling the lignite-fired power plants in the center of the country. Trepca is also important, but it is an economic factor and not a vital one. Also, the mine is mainly located in the Albanian dominated south. I am pleased if you respond to these points. something else: In the mentioned Greek-Turkish population exchange, many Albanians were deported to Turkey because they were Muslims. Is there a chance to bring this population back? Also Many Albanians from the former Yugoslavia were also harassed against their will to Türkey. Are there opportunities for these peoples to return to the Balkans? Again i am pleased if you respond to these points. Great respekt four You Prof James Ker-Lindsay from Germany

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much for the comment. I appreciate it. You raise two really good and important points. My view.would be that a final agreement would allow Kosovo and Serbia to reach agreements on all sorts of issues, including these points. Most countries lack access to key resources, but many work with with neighbours to cover this. I think m the sand would apply between Kosovo and Serbia. Also, Albania has huge water resources that Kosovo can also use. I don’t think it is quite as much if a problem as it seems. (I actually had a section on this in the video, but removed it as it wasn’t as big an obstacle as many might think.) But I am certainly pleased that you raised it. Ultimately, I hope this can be resolved, and as soon as possible. I know Kosovo and Serbia very well indeed. I believe that they can eventually have a good relationship. And I certainly don’t think Serbs and Albanians are destined to hate each other. But we need a comprehensive settlement,m. This just seems one of the two ways to do it, alongside autonomy. Thanks so much again for the comment. Very best regards from London!

[@drenicasi345]

@@JamesKerLindsay Dear Prof James Ker-Lindsay, Kosovo doesn't want Albania to blackmail it to such a degree either, because Albania hasn't really proven itself to be reliable for over a century, while the Kosovar Albanians have worn themselves out for an independent Albania. If you don't take care of your own affairs in the Balkans, you fall into the clutches of corruption and we cannot make ourselves open to blackmail with the water supply. It is known that Albania is eaten up by corruption. In Kosovo, at least due to the young population and the large diaspora, it is developing very slowly but at least in the right direction. Historically, as you know, Kosovo has almost always been separate from Albania, so culturally it has developed a bit differently, although the Albanian identity has been preserved. Although the Albanians have always strived for a united Albania, they now have more independence and autonomy in Kosovo and they want to keep this and not reduce it through Tirana. Kosovo is at the forefront of global decentralization. Balkanization always has negative connotations. In fact, balkanization is a very big freedom and democracy and above all self-determination, provided that peace is secured. The balkanized Kosovo can be an example for gouverning in the EU. Therefore, there can only be an exchange of communities on the condition that Lake Ujmani remains predominantly in Kosovar hands. However, Serbia will try to use Lake Ujmani as leverage in negotiations, making it almost impossible to find an agreement. Incidentally, Kosovo and Serbia cannot develop a fruitful relationship in the coming decades, maybe even centuries. From the Albanian point of view, the Serbs are far too hostile. The Albanians from the former Yugoslavia have suffered far too much and far too often at the hands of the Serbs. From the Albanian point of view, a good relationship can only take place if Serbia sincerely apologizes for the past and also pays for it. However, Serbia is not even able to open its archives to the still missing to pay their last respects to these people. Furthermore, Serbia has a big problem with nationalism. For example, Serbia still glorifies war crimes today. So much respekt for You Prof James Ker-Lindsay

[@Larzh220469]

Excellent and thought-provoking analysis. Two interesting points I took home from this: 1) Kosovo's borders were adjusted during Yugoslav times (if I understood correctly) in order to deliberately avoid the creation of ethnically homogenuous, administrative units, and 2) a land swap has been proposed between Kosovo and Serbia, which would lead to the four municipalities in Northern Kosovo rejoining Serbia, while some Albanian-majority communities in Serbia (in the Presevo Valley area, I assume) would join Kosovo. While the Serbs in Northern Kosovo would undoubtedly be happy about this, do we know anything about the attitues among ethnic Albanians on the Serbian side of the border?

[@bilic8094]

So what your basically saying is for Serbia to trade its own for it's own.

[@jackarta6840]

Those Albanians want to join Kosova but there's not that many of them left and as soon as land swap became a topic, Serbia immediately moved to significantly reduce their number, to a point that "land swap" turned into "land donation" by Kosova. There's simply barely any Albanians left to the east of Kosova. Serbia is ethnically cleansing the Presheva valley via administrative means and this process was intensificed in 2018, with the introduction of address passivization. Firstly, the school diplomas issued by official schools in the Presheva valley are not recognized in the rest of Serbia (because they have Albanian curriculum; the schools are under the jurisdiction of the Serbian Ministry of Education but their diplomas are still not recognized in Serbia), which means the Albanians in Presheva cannot even study in Serbian universities or find jobs in Serbia - they are forced to migrate if they want to study or do qualified work. Their main destination is Kosova. But as soon as they move abroad, Serbia passivizes their addresses, which is an illegal act that the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia called an "administrative ethnic cleansing". Basically once their addresses are passivized, they lose their Serbian citizenship and are forced to live in the country they moved to. This makes them stateless and Kosova is full of stateless Albanians from the Presheva valley. There are special procedures in place to grant them residence permits despite being stateless, but getting Kosovar citizenship is tough because they have to fulful all the usual conditions. The voice of those people would thus not count in a land swap case, since they are no longer considered residents of the Presheva valley according to Serbian law. So to answer your question, yes, the Albanians of the Presheva valley would love to join Kosova. But no, they cannot express that will and while Serbia would get the north of Kosova, the homes of Presheva Albanians would remain in Serbia because those people have been stripped of their citizenship and they cannot express their will to join Kosova.

[@Larzh220469]

@@jackarta6840 Thanks for taking the time to reply in such detail, that sort of reply isn't too common on youtube (or in other social media) these days. The issue you raise definitely deserves further investigation.

[@mojewjewjew4420]

​@@Larzh220469 He is pushing albanian propaganda, its pathetic you'd entertain his baseless claim that Serbia is "ethnically cleansing" any area.

[@mojewjewjew4420]

​@@jackarta6840 Sure the same old "serbs are ethnically cleansing" what about albanian ethnic cleansing? What about their supply of terrorists in Kosovo?

[@soul8938]

Interesting take professor, there is one thing which I would see as problematic with a clean split. That being the orthodox Churches and Monasteries which would still fall into the territory of an independent Kosovo. Do you think this might be a deal breaker if serbia for example demands to have it’s own soldiers or police guard the Churches which would be unacceptable for many kosovars.

[@goranmiljus2664]

No it is OK ... the churches will be turned into mosques. like they have been for 1200 years, (puke)

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

@@goranmiljus2664 Those churches have never been mosques. They are much older than any Albanian presence in the area. Show me a single building made by these Kosovars as old as the churches built by Serbs in Kosovo.

[@hesher3587]

​@@Kalimdor199Menegroth Most of them are Albanian orthodox churches turned slavic so yeah jokes on you

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

@@hesher3587 Albanian Orthodox Churches built by Serb Kings and Emperors? LOL Nice joke. Too bad nobody outside of Kosovo believes it XD

[@hesher3587]

@@Kalimdor199Menegroth Not by serbs anything by Albanians they are clearly in a Byzantine style and none has to bealive it you just have to read actual historical records thats all then you can still believe in your delusional statement

[@euronkajtazi1956]

James your understanding of the balkans is always very surprising and thorough. As a kosovo albanian, youve hit the nail on the head. Unfortunately the wounds of the war are still fresh and most would consider it political suicide to give up territory.

[@CentauriSphere]

And the West isn't gonna support a partition as long as the Ukraine war is going on because then Russia could say 'see you did it in Kosovo we're gonna partition Ukraine' or some bs like that.

[@tordsteiro9838]

That's a.very good point, and it is valid on both sides of the Ibar as well as on both sides of the current border. However, I agree, it is the logical conclusion. And a conclusion is highly overdue, the region really need to move on. Oh, and then there's Bosnia, too... another dysfunctional state 😢

[@Threezi04]

should swap it for the Presevo valley

[@enesbeqiri5340]

We have no choice. It is better to put salt in the wound now than enter another conflict. Some sacrifices.must be made

[@Nista357]

He doesn't understand sh*t. He is just a Western propagandist. Lobbyist.

[@landen2482]

hello james, what's your opinion on bosnia & herzegovina partition? could it solve the deep inner crisis that the country is facing, and could it happen peacefully or it would trigger an armed conflict?

[@coolekikker4454]

Bosniaks, the largest national group, won’t allow the partition of Bosnia just like they didn’t allow it in 92-95. Now these anti-partition feelings are even more present because the Serb Republic entity in Bosnia was founded on genocide of Bosniaks by Serbs.

[@SpicyTake]

Why did Britain and Germany torpedo the land swap?

[@richardalex4516]

Good question. They must be up to something.

[@fpsserbia6570]

I think that Germans are against creating ethnic states, because if Albanians can create ethnic state then why couldn't other, 49% of Bosnia is under serbs, there are 8 milions of turks in Germany, and so on, they already fucked up with Kosovo

[@jakovcu]

@@richardalex4516 Will parts of Germany that were assigned to new states be taken back? What about Alsace-Lorraine? Will status of Northern Cyprus, Spain (Catalonia), Nagorno Karabakh remain unchallenged?

[@daveh893]

I agree that this is a good time to seriously move toward partition. One thing I wonder, though. After partition, would the new Kosovo consider union with Albania?

[@sirairili1570]

Partition of Serbia sure.

[@albotiger7268]

Well that’s the rest of Kosovo’s choice. That’s none serbias business

[@ephraimbrener9143]

Thank you very much for this video. I, actually, agree. That's been said, would the Bosnia Herzegovina - Republica Srpsja, ir Cyprus proposed partition differ from that?

[@thcyprus]

In the case of Cyprus, Turkey took the north part of a UN member state with an invasion, a territory which up to that point was inhabited by a great majority of Greeks who have been ethnically cleansed by the invaders. On the other hand, the whole Kosovo is legally part of Serbia, so Serbia could allow the Albanian majority areas of Kosovo to secede, while keeping the Serbian majority areas.

[@sojicko]

@@thcyprus In case of Kosovo, US took the southern part of UN Member state with military force. Same logic here

[@jaymudd2817]

​@@thcyprus 1974

[@Todd.B]

You have the best timing on posting the videos. Right as I'm getting something to eat before work. I have something useful to watch while I eat. Always informative Prof. thank you

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks so much, Todd. I hope you found it helpful. One of the more controversial issues I have tackled (and that's saying something). I hope all is well at your end.

[@dunnowy123]

As an outsider, this always made the most sense to me

[@VladTevez]

What a familiar subject! (By the way, interesting discussion in the Greek Current podcast)

[@maskinisten019]

Yea Greeks hate Albanians so that podcast would be very pro Serbia, so no need for that podcast.

[@georgegagic9874]

On 10 june Argentina declares about Malvinas.What is your opinion concerning that conflict.

[@RickPossible101]

The partition of kosovo may or may not be a good idea but i feel like partitions don't have a great track record.. India and Pakistan, North and South Korea, North and South Vietnam, I'm aware that the circumstances behind each of these partitions was different but the pain and suffering caused by it makes it a difficult choice to endorse.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Yes, but as I said, in many ways Kosovo’s unilateral Declaration of Independence could be regarded as the partition of Serbia. And this came on top of the partition of Yugoslavia. My point is that this one small change, amounting to just 9% of Kosovo and a small part of Serbia could finally solve the issue and radically change the situation in the Balkans for the better.

[@RickPossible101]

@@JamesKerLindsay Thank you for responding. I think the information you provided in the video is sound. It could be that I'm just concerned about the precedent it sets, today we're talking about 9% of Kosovo. Unfortunately a lot of people will take a mile if you give them inch. In any case, keep up the great work!

[@JamesKerLindsay]

@@RickPossible101 Thanks. I know many see it as a risk. But I also know many people who believe that this is the best way to solve the issue. I work on secession. I have long argued for reconciliation in conflict situations. But in this case, I really do think it is the most logical way out, especially as many in Kosovo deeply oppose any Serbian autonomy. Perhaps better to let them go.

[@RickPossible101]

@@JamesKerLindsay For sure, given the available information and testimonials from both sides of the conflict, in the case of Kosovo specifically, the differences seem to actually be irreconcilable. I appreciate you making foreign policy easy to understand.

[@svansy]

@@JamesKerLindsay yes. you are right. the hostilities between the ethnicities are deeply entrenched. the only possibility is separation and a KFOR guarded border until newer generations start appearing who didn't grow up at war. only time at peace can fully resolve the issues.

[@cesticvaljda]

There is no way Serbian public will ever accept recognition of Kosovo as independent state in any borders. This conflict will be resolved with war sooner or later where victorious side will force defeated one to recognise new reality. Like in nagorno-karabag.

[@soul8938]

That is an unhinged, take given that Kosovo has been severed from Serbian rule for almost 25 years and especially with the overwhelming albanian majority population. What about them?

[@cesticvaljda]

@@soul8938 Kosovo used to be severed from Serbian rule for 500 years, and Serbia got it back and ruled it for almost a century with Albanian majority all the time. And then US decided to shake cards and created a problem which will be resolved in the same way it was created.

[@soul8938]

@@cesticvaljda okay just to give you a reality check since you seem lost in your serbian ultranationalist daydreams 😶‍🌫️ Serbia is surrounded by Nato, and no aggression would be tolerated by any state in europe so any progress made since the intervention in 1999 in serbia would be returned to zero if not worse…

[@rudolfohisena5701]

I thought Serbia lost the last war.

[@narthyseni8250]

@@cesticvaljda terrorist serbs did genocide on indigenous Albanians which are here for more then 10k years abd then western powers decided to denazife nazi serbia

[@echarts3710]

While I understand that these border changes can create difficulties and the final outcome will be far from perfect, it looks like partition being more feasible solution. People are afraid that this type of plan can be an example for Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the key word of "consent" between parties is important. If Kosovo wants it, if Serbia wants it, if Kosovar Serbs want it, if Albanians in neighbouring Serbian villages want it; then no one should object it.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. That is exactly the point. It has to be consensual. This would be in line with international law and would not be a precedent for any other case. In fact, it would be more stabilising as it would fully regularise Kosovo’s status and reaffirm that ultimately any border changes can only be done with state consent. This is a huge point for Ukraine.

[@FOLIPE]

​@@JamesKerLindsay It's amazing to me it's usually seen as fine when the western powers "force consent" even if when they appeal to military force (like in Kosovo and Serbia).

[@jlizamavera]

Sadly Partitions could be a solution better than perpetual war or risk of war. it was in India, Cyprus, Ireland, Palestine, Yemen, Sudan, Korea 1953, Germany in 1949, and even Bosnia after Dayton Agreement (in theory one country, in fact 2 parts).

[@fpsserbia6570]

If ethnostates can be created and clearly are supported by international community then prepare for a lot of wars in the future, and with economic crisis closing in that might happen sooner then later.

[@legoshi7350]

Its interesting to see that Kosovo's independence is based along ethnic lines, but the state itself its actually a "rebelious province", considering that the territory does not even include some albanian majority areas.

[@Kosova-ij9iq]

It's not based on ethnic lines

[@nashbridges-cu6dy]

@@Kosova-ij9iq only ethnic albanians want independence of kosovo thats very interesting also

[@cristoferbano6839]

Rebelius? Like croatia, macedonia, montenegro,Bosnia??? You are slav not like albanian. Albanian are albanian. And kosovo is 90% albanian!

[@nashbridges-cu6dy]

@@cristoferbano6839 kosovo is autonomous region in serbian federal unit of yugoslavia so like voyvodina but bosnia, macedonia croatia slovenia and montenegro are federal units of yugoslavia like serbia so kosovo has nothing to do with it.. Like you said albanian from albania is the same nationality as albanian from kosovo so kosovar doesn't exist as nationality.

[@gresdian]

Thank you for your useful insight, professor, but I pretty much disagree. As in Yugoslavia, in Balkan countries we have many towns, villages, places where people from different ethnicities live side by side, so it would make partition very difficult in practice for Kosovo as well and in my opinion counterproductive for all the area. But I really like this different approach on the topic

[@pizzagogo6151]

Great discussion! I don’t have strong opinion on this , I guess cause partially because I’ve given up on that part of Europe as a lost cause due their inability to get along. Partition has such bad track record and awful legacy seems at first glance a terrible idea.....but given how protracted the violence is, probably is as valid solution to their idiocy as anything.

[@xehpuk]

Interesting video. So albanians separated from Serbia since they were 90% in Kosovo. In these 4 municipalities serbs are 90% so they want to separate from Kosovo. Its hard to argue against that logic. Now everyone worries about domino effect were others would want to do the same and where will it end, also logical. But 90% is a quite crusing majority. If someone have 90% majority in a state, region or just municipality then separation is rather resonable.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. Yes, in a nutshell. But of course there is the wider concern that it will open up discussions about borders elsewhere. But that’s not an issue. The other borders are settled. There is no discussion. This is the only territorial issue. And it was created through an anomalous process. It therefore may require an extra soon if that anomalous process to solve it.

[@albotiger7268]

If it’s logical for separating the north then logically there wouldn’t be an issue with serbia allowing Preshevo, Bujanovci and Medvegja and Debar, Kumanova, Tetova in North Macedonia

[@Canbrdkci]

Thank you so much for the comprehensive and informative video, professor. You perfectly explained the advantages and possible problems it may bring about. I root for the idea of partition and think that the biggest advantage will be the stabilization in the region. However, as you implied, one of the most serious drawbacks is that it can trigger a chain of reaction in the region and lead to the destabilization of another countries, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina. The president of the Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik may reap the benefit of the situation and utter the idea of partition and Russia may benefit it as a leverage (I think it already does). I am glad to hear your opinions regarding this possibility.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. I know that many think that a land settlement for Kosovo will spillover elsewhere. I don’t see why. Bosnia is a recognised UN member. Its borders are universally accepted. No one questions its existence. Not even Serbia. No one is going to open this issue again. And you can be sure that if Serbia is allowed to retain the northern areas, it will be told very clearly that this is the end of the story. No more border debates. And let’s also not forget that one of the main reasons Bosnia is in a mess now is because Dodik is using Kosovo’s unilateral Declaration of Independence to argue double standards. If that situation is resolved consensually, it fundamentally changes that whole debate. Again, I think these objections to a land deal are wholly overstated.

[@Canbrdkci]

@@JamesKerLindsay Thank you again for clarifying it. So now we can make sure that it does not pose any threat for any country.

[@8wayz2shine]

@@JamesKerLindsay Unfortunately that is not how matters are resolved in the Balkans. Case in point, the liberation of Bulgaria in 1878 (and the two different peace treaties). After the second one, Bulgaria was partitioned into five separate parts, one of which (Southern Rumelia) remained within the Ottoman Empire as an autonomous region. Seven years later, in 1885, they declared their Unification with Bulgaria proper and remain as part of Bulgaria up to this day. Even other parts of the partitioned bulgarian territory which remain outside of Bulgaria (in Serbia, Greece, Macedonia, Turkey and Romania) sometimes raise the question of possible unification with Bulgaria. The moral of the story is - even if all the world powers tell you that this is the end of the story and some of your people are to remain part of another country, balkan countries will *definitely not listen* to them and abide by their will. The argument of a spillover is a very sound one when talking about the Balkans.

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

@@8wayz2shine There are little to no Bulgarians left in the territories you mentioned as belonging to other states right now. Except for maybe Macedonia, where there is still an argument about their identity. In Romania there are like 1000 Bulgarians. There was a population exchange back in 1940.

[@8wayz2shine]

@@Kalimdor199Menegroth In Romania probably there are very few, yet some do remain in Northern Dobrogea. In the Western Outskirts that were lost to Serbia bulgarian form a majority of the population in a number of towns - notable example is Dimitrovgrad/Carigrad which has a 54% bulgarians in the town and region. Bosilegrad is another example of a town that has a majority bulgarian population. Both are also border regions with Bulgaria. I would say there are a good 50 000 to 100 000 ethnic bulgarians in Serbia, most of them living on the Eastern border with Bulgaria. Strumitsa in Macedonia is a notable example of a majority ethnic bulgarian population, that is regularly denied and suppressed by the local government. There are quite a few such towns in Eastern Macedonia. There are a few hundred bulgarians remaining in the Serres region (bordering Bulgaria) but many descendants of bulgarian families that were forced to emigrate to Bulgaria a century ago still visit the region and try to reclaim property and land belonging to their families. The local greek authorities do not look kindly at this, even though it is completely legal on the part of the descendants and they try to uncover and provide all necessary documents proving their claims and ancestry. There is even a NGO trying to restore the old village of Banitsa (you can look it up, it has been abandoned for more than a century) but the greek authorities forbid even gatherings at the ruins of Banitsa. Please note - the bulgarian state has nothing to do this, it is ordinary bulgarian families linked to this part of the Balkans that want to recover and restore the home of their ancestors. This is all to say that they are still quite a few unresolved issues around the Balkans that have remained lingering after a century or two, but the people remember. If a territory swap occurs, quite a few Balkan countries (both in and outside of the EU) might express their willingness to revisit those old issues.

[@liammurphy7371]

Not sure why Pristina can't just implement the Brussels Agreement that was agreed in 2013? It's not the same as Ukraine or RS in Bosnia but perhaps more comparable to Gagauzia in Moldova. I have a feeling Kurti and Vucic are both stoking tensions for political goals more than actually caring about the situation in a constructive way. Kurti sees the Brussels Agreement as what is happening in Ukraine which is ridiculous as there are thousands of NATO personel in the area that would prevent a "Serb Invasion". .

[@SerbAtheist]

'Not sure why Pristina can't just implement the Brussels Agreement that was agreed in 2013?' It's not that they can't, it's that they simply don't want to. They feel entitled to everything and are only using the international community to strong-arm Serbia into completely abandoning its sovereignty in Kosovo.

[@tonlon1356]

Interesting video. However, I don’t understand why this exchange of territory doesn’t take place if both Serbia and Kosovo agree to do so? I mean, those are the two parties which should settle this. Other countries and/or institutions don’t have anything to say about the territories of both countries?

[@jakovcu]

There are so many potential problems in Europe that everyone is afraid it will backfire.

[@yellowwasprakija2869]

Kosovo is Serbian legally and historically- you guys cannot pick and chose international law when it suits you

[@AnaB012]

So Serbia should trade territories with Serbia. You people are totally crazy. 😂😂😂. I think that solution is that you give away some part of your country to Albanians and problem solved.

[@Pavlos_Charalambous]

I never understood why the Serb majority north had to be part of Kosovo in the first place? It sounds like a recipe for constant troubles

[@diellibetim]

The north was never majority serb it was also mixed with Albanians but after the war French forces wouldn’t let the Albanians cross the bridge and go to their houses. Also the north was in Yugoslavian period given to Kosovo since Kosovo had autonomy and the south Bejanoc, Medvegja and Presheva valley was given to Serbia. That’s why north is stuck with Kosovo and south serbian territories are stuck with majority albanians

[@danieledelstein9129]

I totally agree with this. Great video as usual, Professor. I will also say that the Serbs in the south wouldn't really be "screwed over" by a Serbia recognition in exchange for annexation of the north because they're already much more integrated. Not because of a different mindset per se, but because they have no choice -- they don't border Serbia, and they're surrounded roundabout by Alnanians. It's sort of like the Palestinian minority in Israel -- they still identify with the Palestinian people, but they're far more integrated than, say, the Palestinians of East Jerusalem. So I do think a more amicable minority rights situation within clear-cut Kosovo independence can be arranged for them, whereas a territorial exchange would be proper for the north.

[@user-vt3ig2bk4j]

Serbs in South Kosovo are not integrated into Albanian society. They live in fenced Ghettos, which are protected 24/7 by NATO- forces.

[@claude6543]

Slovakia and the Czech Republic agreed on border adjustments after they separated. Nobody thought this was somehow sacrilegious. As long as it is consensual, nothing wrong with this approach.

[@milostomic8539]

Slovakia and Czezh Republic are countries + they didn't kill each other for a very long time. In case of Kosovo, NATO wants to steal Serbian province and annex it to Albania which is already a NATO member.

[@FOLIPE]

Because it was mutual, consensual, not based on a foreign occupation of the territory of Slovakia forcing Czechia to accept something.

[@HamzaPKR]

I think I share the opinion of many here that the land swap agreement is probably the only viable solution to this conflict and would benefit not only Kosovo but also regional countries like Albania and the wider European community. However you could in this analysis have included Republika Srpskas reaction to an ethnically Serbian region outside of Belgrades direct control joining Serbia. Their movement against the Bosnian federation might recieve impetus from the Mitrovica region joining Serbia. However apart from that I think all regional countries and factions will be onboard with this agreement.

[@zmajooov]

Keep in mind that Croats also want to leave Bosnia and Albanians would like to leave Macedonia and parts of Montenegro. On one hand the partition makes sense, on the other it opens a door for even more problems, realistically speaking.

[@Dominik-lc4pl]

I think that this partition is by far the best solution (of the solution considered possible). It seems totally absurd to me that a Serb-populated region right by the rest of Serbia be part of the Albanian-majority area trying to break away. When it comes to respecting Yugoslav era borders, if the Yugoslav non-independence of Kosovo has not been respected, why should its borders be? If Serbia were to let its Albanian-majority region go, it should be defined as the Albanian-majority area, not as the borders of an autonomous region with a lesser Albanian majority and no right to secede. One thing I don't understand in this proposed deal: what would Kosovo be swapping the land for? It would make sense to leave Kosovo's status undetermined, and just adjust the borders, letting the northern Serbs out and letting the Albanians of south-eastern Serbia in. It would also be conceivable to trade these areas for full or de facto recognition. But why should Serbia trade both recognition and more land for it?

[@SerbAtheist]

The Badinter committee essentially caused the Yugoslav wars by hypocritically proclaiming Yugoslavia to be 'dissolved' and therefore nonexistent, while at the same time fervently insisting its internal borders be respected.

[@skeetrix5577]

it's always a good day when the professor uploads:) btw I never got to thank you for the Sudan video, so thank you. helped to clear things up. enjoy your weekend sir!

[@mendjelire8392]

It was not Albin Kurti who started the trouble with sending police there to take control of the offices it was the local Serbs, under orders from Beograd, who did not participate in the municipal Kosova elections that started the whole thing.

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

The local Serbs promised to participate in the local elections based on the Akhtisaari agreement, which promised them the creation of an autonomous Serb municipality. The Albanians though did not implement this municipality in over 10 years. They unilaterally broke this agreement, therefore Serbs boycotted the elections and retreated from the Kosovo institutions.

[@bambina011]

I came here because there is a lack of analysis of what is happening in Kosovo, so I wanted to check if professor had some new video and I was right. Thank you for your contribution.

[@miloskovacevic8912]

I find it so sinister that we talk about this issue like the Serbian minority on the north of Kosovo is the center of the issue while Kosovo's whole partition from Serbia was illegal.

[@osheridan]

I understand your point, but at this point there's no way Kosovo is peacefully returning to Serbia in its whole. Isn't it best to minimise the bloodshed and try to find a compromise?

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Maybe. But Serbia also has to accept the circumstances leading up to it. (And many simply overlook the disastrous and brutal actions taken by Milosevic.) Also, I think Serbia should have just treated Kosovo like the effective seventh Yugoslav republic that it was and just let it goes its own way. In any case, a lot of mistakes have been made over the past thirty years by all sides. But let's now try to find realistic solutions that finally ends this mess.

[@davidstrbac5033]

@@osheridan I don't agree with this. Kosovo should be returned to Serbia "whatever it takes".

[@moonman62]

@@davidstrbac5033 So you're justifying and calling for the genocide of Albanians living in Kosovo then?

[@TheRemover469]

​@Moon Man Show me the document that says genocide took place in Kosovo.

[@FairyCRat]

This reminded me of your old video on unification between Kosovo and Albania. I wonder if in case the redrawing of borders is an option on the table again, especially in a way that would make Kosovo even more Albanian, there would be wider calls for the two countries to unite into a single sovereign state.

[@lltipsy]

If the redrawing happens what belongs to albanians would never be accepted by the balkan countries

[@JorgeGarcia-lw7vc]

That is the most pragmatic, sustainable and ethical solution. One condition would be to retain minority cultural, security, political and official language rights in those areas broken away. Long over due. And if it means RepSrpska wants something similar, that is also in good order, for Bosnian entities to decide. The two countries and the whole continent would do so much better if a few politicians would allow to trade some dirt and allow boundaries to reflect sustainable realities. For the naysayers, it won't be perfect, but we ll be all way better off, and when all these countries join the EU, it won't matter as much.

[@eastcorkcheeses6448]

I think , the fact that the serbska region was added to kosova by serbia to give it more say , strenghtens the argument for it to become part of serbia , And if an exchange of villages helps that , all the better.. As to where the real borders would be drawn ? And how the local geography supports (or doesnt ) an international border .. ?

[@yellowwasprakija2869]

Serbia cannot partition itself. If albania wants a part of Kosovo, then we can look at some sort of swap which would include an outlet to the sea.

[@ari54x]

I started this video thinking 'partition? They haven't even tried autonomy!', but you make a compelling case. Whatever the solution, we need open minds to crafting one that will last and can receive consent from both Serbians and Albanians in both areas. It's disappointing Kosovo hasn't shown more respect for Serbians in its nominal borders after its own frustrations pursuing independence, and likewise disappointing how Serbia has reacted. Hopefully cooler heads will eventually prevail on all sides.

[@nirad8026]

It's very hypocritical to presume that Serbs should "just try autonomy", when it was Albanians themselves who had autonomy from Serbia, and still decided to secede. Another key thing is that Serbs, funnily enough, *tried* autonomy, but Pristina is stopping it. It's been a decade since the Brussels Agreement, and Pristina failed to implement even the basic autonomy for Serbs, let alone anything significant.

[@ari54x]

@@nirad8026 i was thinking more that Kosovo should try granting autonomy like it promised, not that the serb minority should try it as they're not the ones able to try it. 😉

[@Nista357]

@@20years20 Just like Turkomans didn't pay for a single sh*t during Yugoslavia. Shut up.

[@dritanmeqa1947]

What about Presevo valley? It is not a territory with a few villages as you say James, it is nearly the same with population and land.

[@qwertt-tg8rd]

Its Serbian land and never Albanian. You just decided to come to Serbia because its better for you.

[@qwertt-tg8rd]

@@cumar9875 Kosovo has always been Serbian and still is and will remain Serbian. USA just used you Albanians for their own benefits as they always do.

[@sucramyalcin]

James, why are the Kosovan Albanians against autonomy for the Serbs in the North but more open to discuss partition?

[@Nikola2006]

The best solution would be to leave it under Serbian authority on paper, and for the place to be indefinitely under UN Administration. The ethnic groups there cannot be trusted to fairly treat one another. We cannot create countries out of thin air based on ethnicity. Will parts of Germany become Turkish states, just because there are large Turkish communities within that country? Will parts of the United States become Mexican states just because there are large ethnic Mexican communities there? This whole mess could have been avoided if the UN stepped in earlier and didn’t allow Kosovo to unilaterally succeed.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

But equally there was always a good argument for Serbia to accept that Kosovo was effectively Yugoslavia’s seventh republic in all but name and let it go from the start. Frankly, the situation is a mess all round. A mess that has cost a lot of lives and caused a lot of misery. It needs to resolved once and for all. It’s clear that Kosovo can’t be put back under Serbian sovereignty. But equally Kosovo needs to accept that the Serbs in the north don’t want to be under its sovereignty. If the deal to resolve both these propositions is a territorial adjustment then surely that is worth considering?

[@luka1431]

@@JamesKerLindsay Under that logic sir, the best way to resolve the current war in the east would be for the Ukrainian government to sign a peace deal with Russia by ceding territory that they have taken and established themselves in, territories where Ukrainian nationals are no longer the majority, is this a sensible resolution from your standpoint?

[@Mankorra_Gomorrah]

@@luka1431 the eastern Ukrainians have only “wanted” to leave Ukraine for like, 9 years at this point. They voted to join Ukraine when it was created and fully participated in its government, politics, society and military until then. The serbs in northern Kosovo were always reluctant to be part of Kosovo and have never done anything to hint otherwise. That’s the whole problem, they weren’t even using kosovan license plates for their cars after decades of being separated from Serbia. Meanwhile it was international news when the eastern Ukrainian break away states started issuing their own papers. You’re also ignoring that the two states in the south of Ukraine that are currently occupied didn’t even want to leave. They were fully under Ukrainian control and there was no fighting there until Russia invaded and occupied them.

[@aegis5536]

Your solution is like an abused woman moving in with her ex partner who abused her. Do you genuienly think that even with autonomy within serbia the albanians will be happy? If you remember history then you should know thay kosovo had its autonomy under serbia stripped in the past. Who is to say that history wont repeat itself and lets not even start on serbia's true long term goal for kosovo. To replace the albanian population with serbians and colonise kosovo wich they have attenmpted since they became independent from the ottoman empire.

[@smaragdchaos]

@@JamesKerLindsay By this logic, Serbia should have Republika Srpska and Republika Srpska Krajina since both of these regions had or still have a significant part of Serbians who wished or still wish to join Serbia. So why should Serbian demands be denied, yet Kosovar demands have to be satisfied? That sounds like double standards to me. Kosovo was an autonomous province, not a seventh republic in Yugoslavia, they have no reason to accept it as a republic

[@nonaligned293]

There is no reason why Serbia should ever accept partitioning of it's territory. Only blackmailed leadership would do such thing. No serious country would give up it's territory, especially if it's as significant culturally and historically as Kosovo is to Serbia.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

This is not in fact correct. Britain held a referendum on Scottish independence. Canada has done the same with Quebec. There are also sound reasons why Kosovo should have been regarded as a seventh Yugoslav republic. As it happens, while I was critical of the prudes leading to Kosovo’s UDI, Serbia has handled the issue extraordinarily badly throughout. The question is how to salvage the situation and reach a settlement. But any idea that Kosovo can be reintegrated back into Serbia is just not feasible. Nor should Serbia want to try. It will be a polity slot and economically costly effort that we’ll never work.

[@AJSrbin]

@@JamesKerLindsay Sorry Professor, but the referendum in Quebec was apparently a cause of controversy with dubious methodology of voting being implemented. Referendums are not bulletproof and can be established with a framework encouraging one vote in preference of another. Let's take the referedum in Montenegro, which won by a mere 0.5% if I believe, which could be boiled down to around 3000 votes - yet the 70.000 Montenegrins living in Serbia were not allowed to vote due to some argument of them then being able to vote in both Serbia and Montenegro. The true democratic process would be to have given them the choice themselves, which they weren't. If 50% of these 70.000 were within legal voting age and limit that would provide 35.000 extra votes being able to be cast. The European leaders were the first to declare the voting process as final although a ballot recount was claimed and due - who are they to meddle in internal politics within other states? It is definitely feasible to reintegrate Kosovo back into Serbia. The effects would probably cause a mass outflow of Albanians seeking life in other countries. Just earlier this year a UK politician slammed the illegal Albanian migrants from Albania proper, who have arrived in a disproportionate amount seeking asylum - measures could be taken to prevent such migrations out of Kosovo, but they probably wouldn't function as the remainder of the Albanians are vehemently anti-Serb. UCK purged all pro-Yugoslav Albanians after all, which is one of the things Hashim Thaci, former PM of Kosovo, is charged with. As Azerbaijan is reintegrating Nagorno-Karabakh after the recent skirmish, which was an outright war, so can Kosovo also be. Azerbaijanis are brutal though and cutting off supplies in forms of food, water and medication - the Caucasus is magnitudes more violent than the Balkans though. But if such a territory can be reintegrated, so can Kosovo as Albanians are already a recognized minority. Albanians have food shops and bakeries all over Serbia and there is no animosity at all. The reintegration would occur in several steps - the US would need to dismantle Camp Bondsteel and go home, while the KFOR should still be present till the region is stabilized. Let's not hide the fact Serbian cultural heritage and Serbian led institutions would be preferred and reestablished - they have been repressed for decades by now and the Serb population persecuted with the most recent pogroms in 2004. The N.Y. Times even reports about an exodus of Serbs in the early 1980's with ethnically targeted attacks here: www.nytimes.com/1982/07/12/world/exodus-of-serbians-stirs-province-in-yugoslavia.html The truth is, which has been repressed since time and forever, is, that the nationalist Albanians have been the ones conducting ethnically motivated attacks and slowly but surely pushed out the Serbian population during Yugoslav times. Tito built them a university and was lenient on immigrants resulting in the Albanian population exploding since 1961 as seen on the censuses fleeing Enver Hoxha's isolated communist state. Before this the rate of change for Serbs, Albanians and Macedonians in Macedonia was equal - after 1961 the same growth rates across both Kosovo outnumbering the Serb and Macedonian ones by unnatural numbers. The key difference is the Serb population actively declining with time by far and large, most likely due to persecution, while the Macedonian one is changes at the same rate as previously. The university built in Pristina in 1970 gave the Albanians the ability to study in their own mother tongue in dual-language institution - this can't be said for many of the native minorities in the Western states such as the Bretons in France, Scots in Scotland, Welsh in Wales, Andalus people in Andalucia et cetera. Even the Hungarians in Szekely land numbering more than a million do not have a native institution and must study in Romanian-led ones. Two or three small local universitites exist privately funded by Hungary. Turns out education combined with massive joblessness in pre-globalized world is a dangerous cocktail giving rise to an 'us and them' sentiment with people blaming others' for their general and economic demise.

[@nonaligned293]

@@JamesKerLindsay if the world was fair and cared about stability it would be resolved easily and Kosovo would be held to same principle as Republika Srpska. Take autonomy, call yourself Republic all you want, make Serbian parts into districts and there you go. They make it out that Basnia is so dissfunctional because of it's complexity. That's nonsense propaganda and nationalist rhetoric from both Kurti as it pretends to Kosovo and from Bosniak leadership in Bosnia looking to strip Srpska of it's autonomies. Dissfunctionallity is only due to criminal and corruption. But we're seeing US and EU protecting these criminal regimes, only chasing their own interests. No one, and I repeat no one, cares about people, what's right, wrong, fair, principled etc. edit: also any kind of partitioning and separation of Kosovo from Serbia is not a long term solution. There would need to be massive propaganda and rewriting of history as Kosovo for Serbs is similar to Israel for Jews. I do not wish any future apartheid on anyone ofc, and Serbs in Kosovo are in more danger of experiencing one in near future. Even though I understand Albanian concerns in Kosovo long term if they were to stay within Serbian borders, Republika Srpska is right there with Serbs who have exact same concerns. It's not like you need to go half way accros the world to find solution.

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

@@AJSrbin Regarding the Szekelys in Romania, as a Romanian I have to point a few things. It is true that they do not have their own university. However, the Cluj and UMF Targu Mures universities have Hungarian only sections where the curriculum is taught in Hungarian language. A Hungarian in Romania can study in their native tongue from kindergarten to university, but they have to study Romanian language as well.

[@AJSrbin]

@@Kalimdor199Menegroth I fully understand - the point I was trying to make is the Albanians often claim they have been persecuted for decades, which is a fictional claim with no hold in reality. Furthermore, it was to criticize the often reapeated Western notion of moral superiority when their nations do not even offer to their minorities, in present day and age, what the Albanians had in 1970. It also demonstrates a point of ethnically led institutions, even joint ones, by minority can create or amplify societal tendencies. I believe Szekely land had looked politically different had the Romanian government funded Hungarian-led universities for decades, but a secessionist movement would probably not suceed as there is no international interest in a division of Romania. Even more so, if let's say Ceausescu had favored minorities like Tito did in relation to everything Serbian - Serbia was the only federal republic, which had autonomous regions created making absolutely no sense at all when no Serbian autonomous regions were established in Croatia or Bosnia. He had been an Austo-Hungarian soldier, after all, fighting against Serbs and Serbia in the First World War. The above is of course hypothetical and does not represent my views, but comes to show what politics preferring one group of people over another can do in terms of minorities becoming ethnically and politically dominant in certain regions and taking over institutions with government approval. Nobody would take the Hungarians seriously on an international level if they were to claim being persecuted or oppressed - why was it then different for the Albanians in Kosovo? I am demonstrating the answer to this rhetorical question throughout my comments, though. All sources claiming Albanian persecution are written by American diplomats and scholars around and after the mid 1990s and we clearly see it took a little more than ten years, the collapse of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia for the Western narrative to switch. Every article from the N.Y. Times, which has written multiple times on the subject, mention Serbs being ethnically persecuted and forced out of the region due to harassment.

[@cdhblackwell]

Would a post partition Kosovo then look to join Albania or remain a sort of Moldova to a Romania?

[@lamusic1996]

It makes sense. This two nations will never be able to live in one single country peacefully. No matters what arrangement would it be including full autonomy, shared power….nothing will work out between them. Yes, partition is a solution with full recognition of the new borders by the whole world. And it’s time for it. Thank you for this.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you. Sadly, I really feel that this is the only logical option.

[@lamusic1996]

@@JamesKerLindsay The only concern, when this option is on the table, is the reaction of the others in the region. There is a fear that any border changes would start domino effect and it would add more trouble to already troubled part of Europe. If you can address this with more believable and stronger arguments, adding security guarantees and overall peaceful agreement….your proposal would definitely gain more attention. Thank you.

[@2SSSR2]

I doubt this will pass trough because Western powers are against it, nevermind that Albanians would want two of Serbian provinces - Presevo and Bujanovac which Western powers are also against. My honest opinion is that this will remain open conflict until either EU integrates both Serbia and Kosovo into the Union (or Federation depending on how that goes) or NATO and EU become so weak that they cannot intervene anymore to stop the violence.

[@mikaelvalter-lithander1247]

North Kosovo for Presevo and Bujanovac sounds good to me. Include promises to work for EU membership.

[@milostomic8539]

To give land abd history for what?EU? Are you kidding me?EU means nothing to us.

[@davidstrbac5033]

I expect that NATO and EU become so weak that this would resolve the issue.

[@dyawr]

I think it would be good to *finally* end this conflict... I don't see why it's not a viable idea, all things considered. I'd say most ppl there would finally get what they want, to be part of their chosen side - separate & independent from the other.

[@Kosova-ij9iq]

Because we would not just give terrotory to serbia for no reason without anything in return especially when there are more albanian majority regions in serbia outside of kosovo should they also be part of their choosen side?

[@atlaszane]

​@@Kosova-ij9iq nothing in return? You have illegally stolen Serbian land, brutality oppressed the Serbian people and have destroyed hundreds of Serbian monasteries! You people are criminals!

[@CentauriSphere]

Yes that was mentioned as part of the proposal. The albanian majority villages in the south would go to Kosovo.

[@merxho95]

For this to end you must sanction and submit Serbia.

[@ronald3836]

@@Kosova-ij9iq Ideally this would get you lasting peace and prosperity. Not enough? Pride is not everyything.

[@milanlukic9281]

Talking to many Albaniens and Serbs they believe separation is the only solution. However the regional polititions were told by the western polititions to reject that solution. I personally believe the west is not really interested in peace, but something else. There should be a referendum in each comune and they can decide where they want to belong to. That would be democracy, right?

[@jessewhite3023]

If I recall, Western opposition to border changes isn't so much concern over Kosovo itself, but setting a precedent that could destabilize Bosnia and Herzegovina. If the Serbs of Kosovo can be a part of Serbia, why can't the Serbs of Republika Srpska or the Croats within the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina be a part of Croatia?

[@sirairili1570]

Maecodnia and Montenegro would fall next because they also have large groups of different ethnicities in them.. Besides, northern Kosova is where Kosova's main power supply is and the biggest mine. While, Albanians of Kosova would get couple of insignificant villages. It would be like giving up gold for stones..

[@davidstrbac5033]

I think the Serbs of Republika Srpska will join Serbia in the future. That is the plan.

[@sirairili1570]

@@davidstrbac5033 It's not hard to see on how that would be used as an example for any country in the region to pursue the same.

[@boombang857]

I will say this: The US/West's meddling and handling of this issue back in the 1990s sealed the fate of this region. A sovereign nation was dismantled illegally, and the territory was taken away without consideration of its cultural and historical value. A millennia-old cultural heritage has been ripped away solely due to geopolitical influence. This will remain a frozen conflict until major geopolitical changes occur.

[@milosstojanovic3601]

The problem with seperation is that, this would open up the way for more "states" to form (nothern cyprus, republica srpska, scotland etc), that could lead up to huge wars and unstable situations

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. But there is nothing in international law to say that a state can’t decide its borders. If Serbia wants to discuss independence in return for a redrawing of borders that is perfectly acceptable and has no bearing on any other case.

[@dyawr]

Oooh, ok. Now I see the topic. I'm curious what you have to say 🤔

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Yes. It’s something I’ve wanted to look at for a long time. But recent events have given the idea a new impetus. Id be keen to hear what you think.

[@alexgray2482]

​@@JamesKerLindsay No one seems to have a problem (except Russia lol) with the prospect of Romania and Moldova consensually uniting, so I don't see why anyone should have a problem with Kosovo and Serbia consensually swapping territory, if it leads to a permanent settlement of the Kosovo issue

[@dyawr]

​@@alexgray2482 Eh, I think if that day comes for Md & Ro, we're gonna see countries objecting for various political reasons... these things always happen, unfortunately.

[@roddychristodoulou9111]

The Kosovo issue is one of the more complex I've ever known . There was time when I felt that the best way forward was for Serbia to grant Kosovo full autonomy if it stayed within Serbia . Then came Americas decision to accept a breakaway Kosovo , this has since proven to be a major mistake by the Americans . It was like a knee jerk reaction by America to punish the Serbs for the massacre at srebrenica and for non compliance . We find ourselves where we are now and it's a complete mess , the only way forward now is full autonomy for the Serb enclave in northern Kosovo , it's not ideal but given where we are it's the best option .

[@milostomic8539]

Kosovo still has autonomy within Serbia but Albanians don't want it. They want to steal Serbian tertitory and history by annexing Kosovo to Albania. By doing that they hope to get rid of remaining Serbs.

[@joseywales148]

The only way that is even considered is for Preshevo Valley to become part of Kosova - without this, you will Never get N Mitrovica

[@davidstrbac5033]

The only way forward is for the US troops to leave Serbia (Kosovo) and take the Albanians with them.

[@Nista357]

​@@davidstrbac5033exactly! That will happen soon my brother. Soon the triangle heads will not exist on our lands. Just be patient.

[@theconqueringram5295]

Alright, this has got have been some kind of power-grab or a provocation, right? I mean, what did the authorities in Pristina think was going to happen? Well, it seems that Kosovo won't give up on its aspirations for statehood and the Serb communities in the north won't stand for it... at this point the only thing to do is partition.

[@kelian69]

I’m absolutely biased here but I really like your approach and willingness to look at the larger picture. Thank you.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you very much indeed. I really appreciate it. I know that my take on this is not popular with nationalists on both sides, but hopefully it provides a sensible middle way. What is surprising is just how opposed many international observers are. I just get the sense that they haven’t really looked at the issues. They just assume it just be bad, but without understanding why. And let’s face it, the current prolonged situation is hardly creating stability!

[@kelian69]

@@JamesKerLindsay i agree. We’re stuck in a loop that does not benefit Serbs or Albanians. The instability is creating such a toxic environment that Albanians are leaving in droves while the Serbs get pushed more and more into, basically, ghettos. Hard to see a way out of this, sadly.

[@chestermann3603]

The Professor in his arguments on the dissolution of Yugoslavia, starts with the preposition that all internal borders were a result of democratic processes. I don't consider the Congress of The Communist Party of Yugoslavia as a democratic institution. The conflicts of the nineties dispel that. As well as the issue at hand. It's not difficult to see, if one wishes to look, that everyone other than the Serbs are solidifying their national interests on the territory of ex-Yugoslavia. To the detriment of Serbs I would say. With the help of outside forces of course. Everyone is forgetting, Serbia was the only sovereign country at the moment of the formation of Yugoslavia ( The Kingdom of Serbs Croats and Slovenes). By the way, what is now Montenegro and N Macedonia was part of Serbia at time of formation.

[@AJSrbin]

Exactly - basing modern borders on communist federal divisions is laughably bad. In the Kingdom og Yugoslavia there were oblasts, which were much more natural in magnitude, size and span. Later on came the banovinas and already here the basis for federal borders were established particularly on merging and forming one large single Croatian banovina. The exact same issue can be seen in the later parts of the Soviet world, whose leaders new based administrative borders on becoming borders of future sovereign nations.

[@gordanabujagic2762]

Dobro rezonujete. Spoljne sile bi da okrive Srbe za sve, a to nije istina. Pronađite podatke o starosti srpskih crkava i manastira na Kosovu i Metohiji i uverite se koliko dugo mi živimo na toj teritoriji. KIM je sveto i srpsko.

[@AJSrbin]

@@gordanabujagic2762 Ja sam Srbin

[@hrishikeshmasurkar8434]

Very well explained, thank you professor Ker-Lindsay!

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you so much. Of course, many on both sides won't like the message. But this is worth discussing, even if to reinforce that it is the logical alternative to autonomy.

[@geep2004]

I like how you say that the story starts with “Kosovo being conquered by Serbia” and leave out that Serbia was majority ethnic Serbs until the area was settled by Albanians during the Ottoman Empire. Misleading and ignoring the historical significance of Kosovo for Serbs

[@goranmiljus2664]

It is ok for islamics to take christian lands ... but NOT ok for christians to take it back.

[@hysenndregjoni853]

This seems like a rather dubious and hard to back statement. Even if there was any backing, Serbia ceased to be an entity for 500 years, and it's a natural thing for populations to shift. Even if Albanians moved out the Serbs, the Serbs themselves moved out the predecessors of Albanians (by all accountable estimates we do have), so it is indeed true that it all "reasonably" starts in the 20th century. If it was up to Serbian claims, even Shkodra would be under Serbian rule (I mean, it would be a free for all, why not claim half of Albania even, oh wait, that happened). Kosovo was colonized by Serbs in the Middle Ages. They moved in to a territory hitherto inhabited by proto-Albanians ( I mean, I am being lenient here, even those people that moved in were proto-Serbs, as the identity, in the modern sense of the word had yet to be formed, as it's mostly the result of modern age dynamics) and other identities as well. 500 years went by, and they had moved out again (the political influence having thus being replaced by the Ottomans). Serbs have a historical claim for sure, but so do the Romans, or the Bulgarians, and the Albanians as well. Should we build modern society on the basis of century old claims though ? I think not.

[@narthyseni8250]

It never was majority serb. In fact serbs came in Kosovo when ottomans came

[@temistogen]

​@@hysenndregjoni853 Albania was not an entity up until 1913.

[@hysenndregjoni853]

@@temistogen Poor argument, I never mentioned Albania, but the Albanians.

[@FOLIPE]

I don't have a moral issue with partition per se, but it seems it's always the west being "pragmatic" when it suits itself and "moralistic" when that is the most benefitial option to them.

[@pistolpetetc]

Indeed.

[@jaymudd2817]

The Balkans, 28 June 1914, a fuse was lit, most fascinating.

[@monkeydank7842]

Next: BOSNIA | Time to Discuss Partition? ;-)

[@YourD3estinY]

You can already hear Serbia and Croatia rubbing their hands in excitement.😂

[@JamesKerLindsay]

No. I make this point in the video. Bosnia is an internationally accepted state. Serbia recognises its borders. This is a case where there are deep divisions and the borders are fundamentally contested. This need to immediately, and unnecessarily and incorrectly, link it with Bosnia is a key part of the whole problem and why Kosovo can’t be solved.

[@EdMcF1]

@@JamesKerLindsay The SFR of Yugoslavia was also an internationally-accepted State.

[@goranmiljus2664]

@@JamesKerLindsay Serbia is also an internationally accepted state.

[@fotzkopp4723]

@@goranmiljus2664 "Bosnia is an internationally accepted state"- seems a little fun to say this & talk at the same time about Kosovo?!

[@nieuwegeljo5645]

Thank you for a superb and balanced exposé.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you!

[@mendesjosr4438]

I like the idea of Partition but Problem one, not al serb majority areas are contiguous to Serbian territory Problem two, there are still a few Kosovar majority municipalities in Serbia, would these be also on the table or not? And if not why? You also have some more muslim of other ethnic groups municipalities that, or even Hungarian/Romanian/bulgarian majority municipalities that, if you are going to partition territories by ethnic group, might have their own preferences

[@greghavers821]

very interesting!! thanks for this James!!!!

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks so much Greg. I’d wanted to cover this for ages. It is one of the more controversial issues that I’ve looked at. But we need to find a settlement and this seems an option worth considering in this particular case.

[@Princip615]

We will never give up KosMet. If it takes 10 days, 100 days, 1000 days. It will be fully under Serbia again! 🇷🇸🏴‍☠️☦️

[@yellowwasprakija2869]

Exactly - Serbia cannot partition itself

[@milostomic8539]

A country (any country) can not recognize Crimea as Ukrainian on the basis of international law while at the same time recognizing Kosovo as independent country. Serbia is still recognized with Kosovo by the UN, not without.

[@rampage241]

100%

[@mirandapillsbury7885]

you need to let it go. unless you want to genocide the ppl there. Kosovo is majority Albanian and they do not want to live with you guys. get it over with an do a land exchange. thats it

[@bringle8122]

Why did Britain and Germany reject the idea of redrawing boarders in 2018?

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Really great question. I think it was largely because officials got it into their heads that it was bad and would be persuaded otherwise. I just don’t think there was any serious analysis. I just think there was a complete lack of critical thinking about it from those in charge of policy at the time. I know many very serious figures who were in favour of it. And many countries also supported it. But London and Berlin wouldn’t budge - despite pressure from Kosovo officials at the time. And so here we are. Five years later, yet another crisis and no end in sight.

[@bringle8122]

@@JamesKerLindsay Thank you kindly for the reply! Hopefully things will progress from here in the region. These are some of the most informative and informed videos on such topics on KZbin. Keep up the excellent work!

[@sirairili1570]

​@@bringle8122 Because no country in Balkan is ethnically homogene..most like will cause the whole peninsula to ask about the same.. And afterall these artificial borders were drawn in 1912 Conference of London and supported and motivated by France.

[@flightmasterr231]

I've always thought this is the obvious solution. Almost too obvious

[@Hallucinoman1]

I'm a Serb in my mid 40's and I've grown sick and tired of hearing the word "Kosovo" literally my entire life. I have graduated from American schools, but have Russia in my heart and soul, as most Serbs do. I don't think I will live long enough to witness a solution to the Kosovo conflict. Why not? Because it isn't in the big powers' interest to solve or settle anything, neither here nor in Ukraine, nor, for that matter, anywhere else in the world. Peace has never been the goal of the US, only ongoing conflicts have. The Americans are using Albanians to control and marginalize the influence of Russia in the Balkans, and just like all their other "partners" in the past, will spit them out once the US focus shifts eastward to Asia, from Russia to China. Although I personally couldn't care less about that damned piece of land, Kosovo is the heart and soul of the Serbian nation and history. And one must not give up on his identity. In this incarnation I am a Serb, in the next one I may be Albanian for all I know. A lot will depend on the fate of Russia and the outcome of the current war in Ukraine. A lot will also depend on the faith of China and whether it's economy will survive the demographic crisis it will be facing in the next 10-20 years. The American empire is also in its demise, but just as Rome has been falling for 300 years, it's going to be a long process. No single conflict, regardless of how small, can be viewed separately from the big picture. Sorry for taking 2 minutes of your life... You'll never get those back. ;)

[@ZIVELASRBIJA3]

Kosovo is Serbia tho

[@berkin3086]

I am so curious, will you suggest the same solution for the Cyprus issue?

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thanks. No, I wouldn’t. The two situations are very different in all sorts of ways. The international community has agreed that Cyprus should be reunited as a buzonal, bicommunal federation. That is a good solution. Cyprus is too small to be two separate states. And, frankly, the Cypriots have more in common than the Serbs and Albanians. Also, Kosovo was effectively a republic within Yugoslavia. There’s a case for saying that it always made sense for it to have gained independence. But I also accept that parallels will inevitably be drawn. Interestingly, in the context of this discussion, I have always pointed out that while many say that borders can’t be withdrawn and that ethnic separation is impossible, if the Greek and a Turkish Cypriots announced tomorrow that they did want to split and had agreed a border, no one would stand in their way! So much of international relations is about understanding the rules and spotting the inconsistencies! :-)

[@berkin3086]

@@JamesKerLindsay Thanks. I agree with you. At least the Turks and Greeks have more in common than the Serbs and Albanians. On the other hand, both sides must leave their egos and historical ambitions.

[@mou6854]

Considering the heavy handed response Kosovo gets compared to Serbia I would not be shocked if Kosovo went the way of Georgia in having EU aspirations but having an independent view on policy. A decade of dangaling the chance to join the EU unless you submit to every reform and hope Serbia changes it's views on Kosovo's independence is tiring.

[@bilic8094]

Hopefully Serbia never changes it's view on the kosovo issue.

[@5vete]

this should help the situation no end.

[@stefangridovic3546]

Very nice analasys, professor. I really enjoy watching your videos. Greetings from Serbia.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

Thank you very much. I know it is a controversial topic, and many people in Serbia hate this idea. But maybe we do need to have a debate about it. Greetings from London. :-)

[@tombuddy100]

Of course they dislike the idea to partition from what they consider to have been Serbian territories to begin with, including sourthern Serbia proper.

[@Hristusist]

@@JamesKerLindsay Not true , many serbs are in favor of this idea , or should i say that they see it as the only logical way out of this situation . The more the west stalls this partition the more far right forces grow in serbia. Serbs only want fair treatment , and if the west doesn't want serbia to get closer to russia , they should stop treating us like a threat every time serbs ask for the same rights as those given to the albanians . Also 5 EU member states don't recognize Kosovo (Spain , Romania , Slovakia , Greece , Cyprus ) . All we want is fair treatment . Just extend an olive branch to the serbian side for once in the last 30 years , and we will gladly accept it . Much love and respect from Belgrade .

[@b.p4034]

@@JamesKerLindsay well its not that controversal. A lot people think same as you.

[@JamesKerLindsay]

@Hristus Thanks. I think you are absolutely right. I’ve long felt that the Kosovo issue is a lightening rod for nationalists and feeds the far right. I have long despaired at Western policy on Kosovo, largely because I think it has actually damaged Serbian, European and even Kosovo’s interests.

[@Durim]

1. Kurti is not completely against the association as long it's on par with Kosovo constitution. He has proposed his own version of the association agreement which is mainly based on the Croatia-Serbia (2004?) minority agreement: non-territorial - Probably since giving autonomy to a small region in an already struggling country just causes troubles (ex: Bosnia and Herzegovina or Moldova). 2. For many Albanians (especially older), partition would not even be a discussion, as historically they have had to deal with Serbian expansionism all their life - look up: Partition of Albania. 3. Serbia is unfortunately (for everyone involved) run by people that profit on destabilization and conflict. For as long they have the same politics, nothing will change. Any time there's backlash by the population in Serbia, suddenly you'll see something happening in North Kosovo. 4. Again unfortunately, no type of agreement will fix decades of ethnic tensions. As someone who lives in Kosovo and constantly has to deal with "not available in your country", I hope nothing but legitimate solutions for both sides in the future.

[@Kalimdor199Menegroth]

1. Kurti's plan disregards pretty much all the points and wishes of the Serb communities in Kosovo. Therefore it was not accepted because it is not a proper guarantee that their rights will be respected. A non-territorial autonomy has been rejected by the Serbs. 2. You will still have to deal with the threat of Serb expansionism either way. The current status of Kosovo would permit Serbia to reintegrate it if the foreign troops stationed there are recalled. Americans never stay in a region permanently. 3. There is no difference between Kurti and Vucic. Both are nationalists which are voted by their people with a specific foreign policy in mind. Serbia is not run by people who want to destabilize the region. The region itself has been destabilized by the West because of how they handled the aftermath of the Yugoslav breakup. They promoted a win-loss scenario where Serbs lost everything while the others won everything, so of course, this lead to revisionism. And now they have to cope with the results of their action. 4. This partition idea seems better than the previous deals so I hope it goes through. Other than that, my country's position in regards to Kosovo is resolute. Romania will not recognize Kosovo unless Serbia recognizes it.

[@jovanapetrovic5351]

@Kalimdor199Menegroth Very precise and objective stance brother Romanian. Regards