Civil Resistance in Kosovo [Paperback]

Howard Clark (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0745315690 | ISBN-13: 978-0745315690 | Publication Date: October 1, 2000

The world woke up to the conflict between Serbs and Kosovo Albanians too late – when Kosovo erupted into full-scale war in the spring of 1999. But many Balkans watchers were surprised war in Kosovo did not happen sooner. In Civil Resistance in Kosovo, Howard Clark argues that war had been avoided previously because of the self-restraint exercised by the Kosovo Albanians and their policy of nonviolence. Prior to the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA)'s taking up of arms, Kosovo Albanians had had a long history of civil resistance in the face of Serbian ultra-nationalism. They were committed to a strategy of nonviolent resistance even as they were harassed by Serbian police, vilified in racial terms, and excluded from jobs, education and government benefits. Excluded from the 1995 Dayton Agreement, Kosovo became a breeding ground for frustration and ethnic strife, ultimately leading to war and the NATO bombings. The author traces the historical evolution of the Kosovo Albanians' struggle, from peaceful demonstrations to the KLA backlash, covering the 1980s to the present day. In assessing the achievements and limitations of nonviolence, Clark explains why the policy was ultimately abandoned and how it could have been made more effective. Importantly, this book draws on the lessons of Kosovo to provide suggestions for future peace-building.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

As coordinator of War Resisters’ International, Howard Clark was involved in civil peace initiatives in Kosovo throughout the 1990s. He is also one of the founders of the Balkan Peace Team, an international volunteer project working for Serbian-Albanian dialogue.

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Pluto Press (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745315690
• ISBN-13: 978-0745315690
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,828,672 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #92 in Books > History > Europe > Albania

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars good book about a troubled place, October 17, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Civil Resistance in Kosovo (Paperback)

Clark's book is an excellent and thoroughly researched history of the little know civil resistance movement in Kosovo that sprang up in the early 1990s until war broke out in 1998. Clark's research is impeccable (much of it first hand) and this piece is a must read for anyone trying to get a more thorough understanding of this conflict.