The Emergence of an International Involvement Cleavage in Kosova’s Party System

This paper argues that a cleavage on international cooperation emerged within Kosova’s party system prior to the declaration of independence in 2008 and has influenced the party system. The internationalization of the Kosova conflict brought the international community (IC), a term encompassing the United States, the European Union, and institutions such as UNMIK and later EULEX, into domestic politics. The IC acted as mediator during peace negotiations, as a state-builder during the international protectorate, and later as a consulting partner after independence. While there was a broad consensus among political parties framing the IC as a key ally in Kosova’s path toward Euro-Atlantic integration, divisions emerged over the scope and nature of international involvement in domestic governance. These divisions and the roles different parties took gave rise to a cleavage between parties on how to relate to the IC. Drawing on U.S. diplomatic cables, media coverage, and interviews, as well as role theory this article traces the early formation of this cleavage before the declaration of independence.