Bridging Kosovo's ethnic divide? The roles of the international community in promoting improved ethnic relations in 'post-conflict' Kosovo

Over four years after the international intervention in Kosovo, the ethnic divide remains wide. This thesis explores whether peacebuilding efforts in Kosovo have furthered the international community's goal of creating a multiethnic society. Major issues that affect ethnic relations in Kosovo, and the manner in which they have been addressed, are discussed using stories collected through ethnographic research in Kosovo. A diverse sample of peacebuilding programs is described, and specific characteristics of these programs are identified, including: direction (top-down versus bottom-up); level of actor (elite, mid-level or grassroots); peacebuilding emphasis (coexistence, reconciliation, or justice); approach (structural, experiential or interpersonal); and coordination. An analysis of these characteristics informs a discussion of the effectiveness of different approaches to promoting improved ethnic relations in Kosovo. Conclusions about the international community's efforts to build a multiethnic society in Kosovo follow from this analysis, including a discussion of lessons and recommendations for future peacebuilding efforts.