Kosovo: Impact

Immediate Impacts

The NATO bombing campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999 led to significant material damage and loss of life.
Post-bombing, the Kosovo Albanians experienced a large return of refugees, and struggled to reestablish daily life amidst ruined infrastructure and deep traumas.
The Serb and Roma (non-Albanian) population of Kosovo, being seen as “pro-Serb”, also suffered major reprisals and was largely driven out of Kosovo. Their historic churches and monuments faced vandalism or destruction.
The bombings were criticised in international circles, marking a PR setback for NATO. It was widely seen as a violation of international law, with doubts over its humanitarian justification.

Political Developments

Under United Nations administration in the aftermath (UNMIK), Kosovo geared towards a path of autonomy from Serbia. UN resolution 1244 paved this route, though it stopped short of full independence.
The liberation of Kosovo from Serbian rule led to the rise of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), initially a guerrilla group which had fought against Serbia.
In 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence, leading to mixed international reactions. A significant number of countries recognised its independence, while others, including Serbia and Russia, did not. Kosovo is still not a member of United Nations.

Long-term Consequences

Ethnic tensions persist between Kosovo’s Albanian majority and Serb minority, leading to sporadic incidents of violence to this date.
Almost two decades after the violent conflict, significant parts of Kosovo still struggle to build an effective governance structure and face ongoing socio-economic issues, including high unemployment, weak rule of law, and corruption.
Kosovo’s disputed status on the international arena continues to impact its development, including EU membership aspirations.
The International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY), established prior to the conflict, saw several cases related to atrocities committed in Kosovo, impacting the narrative and politics of the conflict.