Continuity and change in instrumentalizing 'The Precedent'. How Russia uses Kosovo to legitimize the annexation of Crimea. Issue 3 (3rd July 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rotaru, Vasile; Troncotă, Miruna
• Is Part Of: Journal of southeast European and Black Sea studies. Volume 17:Issue 3(2017)
• Page Start: 325
• Page End: 345
• Publication Date: 2017-07-03
• Subjects: Crimea -- foreign policy -- Kosovo -- legitimacy -- precedent -- narratives -- Russia -- Serbia -- Ukraine; Balkan Peninsula -- Economic conditions -- 20th century -- Periodicals; Balkan Peninsula -- Politics and government -- 1989- -- Periodicals; Geopolitics -- Balkan Peninsula -- Periodicals; Black Sea Region -- Economic conditions -- 20th century -- Periodicals; Black Sea Region -- Politics and government -- 20th century -- Periodicals; Geopolitics -- Black Sea Region -- Periodicals; 330.9496
• DOI: 10.1080/14683857.2017.1348044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-3857

Abstract

Abstract: The article contributes to the efforts of understanding Russia's legitimization endeavours by looking at the policy narratives centred around the so-called Kosovo precedent and the way they were perceived by different actors from Ukraine, Russia, and international experts. The aim of the paper is to scrutinize the process of politicization of contested international norms (in particular, territorial sovereignty and the right to self-determination) in the case of Russia's legitimacy claims in Ukraine. In assessing the instrumentalization of the 'Kosovo precedent' in the Crimea crisis, we focused on three main elements identified in the selected policy narratives: the reinterpretation of history, the humanitarian and ethnic factor and the reinterpretation of Western actions in the Balkans.