CONTESTED STATEHOOD: EXPLORING THE REASONS BEHIND NON-RECOGNISION OF KOSOVO BY CERTAIN STATES

This paper analyzes the non-recognition of Kosovo's statehood by a group of key states, including five European Union members (Spain, Greece, Romania, Cyprus, and Slovakia) and two permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with veto power, China and Russia. The focus is on the interaction between legal factors and political considerations in formulating these positions. The use of recognition theories in international law, as well as an examination of literature and official documents, helps clarify the fragmented context of Kosovo’s international subjectivity. Non-recognition directly affects Kosovo's ability to integrate into international organizations and exercise multilateral diplomacy. The ongoing non-recognition of Kosovo remains a reflection of tensions between law and politics in the international system. In this context, the study suggests that Kosovo's international subjectivity could be built through approaches sensitive to the context, shifting the focus from diplomatic confrontation to the creation of stable relations with non-recognizing states.