Analysis of Tito’s Policies on Ethnic Conflict: The Case of Kosovo

Abstract:

The Kosovo Conflict, which arose between ethnic Albanians and Serbs in 1998-1999, is a painful memory. However, the tension between them had existed since the Ottoman rule (1455 – 1912). During President Joseph Tito’s period (1945-1980), a series of policy and constitutional changes occurred aiming to stimulate peaceful development in the region, and the granting of certain autonomous powers to ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. Three important aspects of Tito’s “integration-oriented policy” are examined in this article, including the Brother and Unity Policy, the “Blood Transfusion” Economy Policy, and the Migration Policy. This analysis demonstrates how those policies overall failed to alleviate the underlying ethnic tensions that afflicted the two ethnic groups. Furthermore, they did not stabilize the economy or advance the prosperity of the culture. In view of the analysis, this article suggests that policy makers take an in-depth look at ethnic relations when developing and promoting relevant policies. General recommendations and strategies are presented in this paper in order to assist policy makers and future researchers to better address the ethnic issues between ethnic Albanians and Serbs. Such attention is crucial to the stability of the region, the development of the economy, the prosperity of the culture, and the improvement of relationships at every level.