The fall of the Berlin Wall, three decades ago, set in motion democratic changes and the fall of Communism from the Baltic Sea to the Adriatic Sea. While some countries affected by this wave of change went through transition to democracy and respect for human rights without violence, Yugoslavia was embroiled in internal military conflict fueled by conflicting aims of political elites of the time, aided by international political, diplomatic, and military support. The breakup of Yugoslavia started and finally ended in Kosovo (1989—1999), beginning with the suspension of Kosovo’s political autonomy within Yugoslavia, followed by wars in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, ending the decade of violence with NATO’s military air campaign against military targets in Yugoslavia. Compared to the disintegration of the federalism of Czechoslovakia and the USSR, the disintegration of Yugoslavia happened along ethnonational lines because the one-party system in Yugoslavia allowed the political-administrative boundaries of the republics and provinces in the federal country to operate along ethnic national lines, making divisions and clashes inevitable. This paper aims to explain how a movement for human rights, equality, and democracy in Kosovo evolved into a movement for independence. It also aims to explain that the foundations for the idea of a free, independent, and sovereign state of Kosovo were set by events and processes in 1989—1991.
Source: Hamiti U. (2019) It all started in 1989: Break-up of Yugoslavia and Kosovo’s struggle for nationhood. Ideology and Politics. №3(14): 58-76
Kuanguka kwa ukuta wa Berlin, miaka 30 iliyopita, ilianzisha mabadiliko ya kidemokrasia na kuanguka kwa Ukomunisti kutoka Bahari ya Baltic hadi Bahari ya Adriatic. Wakati baadhi ya nchi zilizoathiriwa na wimbi hili la mabadiliko zilipitia mabadiliko ya kidemokrasia na kuheshimu haki za binadamu bila vurugu, Yugoslavia ilijishughulisha na mgogoro wa kijeshi wa ndani uliosababishwa na malengo yanayopingana ya wasomi wa kisiasa wa wakati huo, wakisaidiwa na msaada wa kimataifa wa kisiasa, kidiplomasia na kijeshi. Mvunjiko wa Yugoslavia ulianza na mwishowe ulimalizika huko Kosovo (1989-1999), ukianza na kusimamishwa kwa uhuru wa kisiasa wa Kosovo ndani ya Yugoslavia, ikifuatiwa na vita huko Slovenia, Kroatia, Bosnia na Herzegovina, na kumaliza muongo wa vurugu na kampeni ya anga ya kijeshi ya NATO dhidi ya malengo ya kijeshi huko Yugoslavia. Kwa kulinganisha na uharibifu wa Chekoslovakia na USSR, uharibifu wa Yugoslavia ulifanyika kwa njia ya kikabila kwa sababu mfumo wa chama kimoja katika Yugoslavia uliruhusu mipaka ya kisiasa na kiutawala ya jamhuri na mikoa katika nchi ya shirikisho kufanya kazi kwa njia ya kikabila, na kufanya mgawanyiko na mapigano kuwa ya lazima. Karatasi hii inakusudia kuelezea jinsi harakati ya haki za binadamu, usawa, na demokrasia huko Kosovo ilivyobadilika kuwa harakati ya uhuru. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""mstari wa msingi wa wazo la uhuru, uhuru, na uhuru wa Kosovo uliwekwa na matukio na michakato ya 1989-1991.""" Chanzo: Hamiti U. Mwaka 1989 ulipoanza vita kati ya Yugoslavia na Kosovo, nchi hiyo ilijitahidi kuunda taifa. Mawazo na Siasa. No. 3 (mwisho wa mwaka) 58