The Conflict in Kosovo

In a number of former communist countries, the end of the Cold War acted to trigger conflict, as long-standing internal divisions boiled to the surface in the sudden absence of single-party rule.

For the most part, the countries of Eastern and Central Europe managed their transitions without violence.

The one exception was Yugoslavia, which disintegrated in a series of violent conflicts, including conflicts in Croatia, Bosnia, and Kosovo. In contrast to its response in Rwanda, the international community acted decisively in Kosovo; nevertheless, the effort was delayed and often lacked coordination, and the conflict took a devastating human toll.

Ethnic cleansing and other atrocities in Kosovo resulted in an estimated 10,000 civilian deaths, over 1.5 million internally displaced persons and refugees, burning of homes, use of human shields in combat, rape as an instrument of war, and summary executions (1).