The Theory of Conflict Prevention. What can Kosovo draw out of it?

Abstract

The article discusses the theories of the concept of conflict prevention. Kosovo political elites should, if they really want to stabilize the new country, take findings and recommendations of the theory of conflict prevention into consideration, and then find their own way (practice) how to address the problems, related to conflict prevention arising from political, social, economic and cultural sphere. Afterwards, the decisionmakers and high officials have to model their own specific strategies and policies of conflict prevention in order to reduce possibilities of new escalation of violence. The article discusses some historical and modern explanations of origins of violence and the relation between them and conflict prevention. The article also explains the development of the concept of modern conflict prevention, beginning in the framework of the United Nations in 1960’s and culminating in comprehensive approach of conflict prevention in the European Union and some other international organizations. Difference between structural and operation conflict prevention is explained in last part of the article, with argumentation the structural conflict prevention is necessity for Kosovo as a newly emerged political entity in the Western Balkans.