Kosovar Identity: Challenging Albanian National Identity

Abstract

The debate on development of Kosovar identity, initiated after the war of 1998-99 in Kosovo, began initially promulgating the differences of Albanian language dialects to give voice to the new political circumstances after the declaration of independence. The main argument of this debate revolves around two extremes: the existence or non-existence of the Kosovar identity as a national identity. Such a debate is seen as a challenge to Albanian identity. This article argues that both these positions hold some valid reasoning, however the development of an identity into a national one is a much more complex premise than dialectical differences in speech or the existence of an independent state. The article discusses how Albanian identity is still powerful for the majority of the Kosovo population and examines the prospects of the Kosovar identity to replace the power of the Albanian identity. The article concludes that Kosovar identity contains many favourable ingredients to develop as a national identity, however it is still soon to be considered one and that such development depends on political circumstances, mostly international and less national.