The Dayton Accords and the Escalating Tensions in Kosovo

Abstract

This paper argues that the Dayton Accords, which effectively ended the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, were the primary cause of the outbreak of violence in Kosovo in 1998. While the Accords were regarded as successful in neighboring Bosnia, the agreement failed to mention the existing situation in Kosovo, thus perpetuating the ethnic tensions within the region. Following the Dayton Accords, the response by the international community failed to address many concerns of Albanian Kosovars, creating a feeling of alienation from the international political scene. Finally, the Dayton Accords indirectly contributed to the collapse of the Albanian government in 1997, creating a shift in the structure of power in the region. This destabilization effectively triggered the outbreak of war between Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo the following year.