Publication

This note explores the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice concerning the Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence illegal under international law. Its legal scope is extremely narrow, as it is only an opinion, not a judgment, and it deals only with the declaration of independence itself, and not with whether Kosovo can be considered a legal state. But its political implications could nevertheless be very wide. It has not yet prompted many more countries to recognize Kosovo’s independence, but it does seem to have contributed to a shift in relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and it may yet be used as ammunition by other entities seeking independence.