The war in Kosovo was the first armed conflict in which NATO was involved since its creation, and the largest humanitarian crisis in Europe since the end of World War II. The operation was seen by many analysts as an attempt by the US to extend its influence and hegemony in the continent. The conflict, however, may be interpreted in the light of the evolution of the practice of humanitarian interventions in the post-Cold War period, especially when gross violations of human rights occur in regions where the nation-state is undergoing a process of fragmentation. The article discusses the intervention in Kosovo from the perspective of the systemic instability caused by the collapse of the Yugoslav State after the end of the Cold War. The redefinition of the rule of sovereignty is implicit in the international community's efforts to establish order and stability in face of the threat humanitarian crises pose to international security.
Kosovo; Intervention; Sovereignty; NATO; Human rights