Liridon Lika is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASoS) of the Maastricht University (UM) in the Netherlands and a Lecturer at the Center for International Relations Studies (CEFIR) of the Department of Political Science of the University of Liège (ULiège) in Belgium.
'This book is very timely and offers a much-needed analysis of Kosovo’s foreign policy and its diplomatic relationships with key strategic allies and partners. Outstanding scholars, as well as experienced diplomats and practitioners, provide their insightful examinations of the foreign policy and bilateral relations of Kosovo. This edited volume is also a valuable contribution to the understanding of international relations, diplomacy, and the foreign policy of small states. It serves as an excellent resource for academics, foreign policy decision-makers, diplomats, scholars, students, and a broad audience in general. We are delighted to highly recommend this book to all readers who seek an in depth understanding of the challenges, opportunities, and foreign policy perspectives of a new, young European country.' Arben Hajrullahu and Bekim Baliqi, Department of Political Science, University of Prishtina, Kosovo 'This timely volume brings interesting new insights into how the young state of Kosovo has managed to establish relations with a wide range of countries and developed a distinct foreign policy profile. This study is not only attractive for scholars and students with an interest in Kosovo but also for those who want to better understand foreign policy strategies of small states.' Sophie Vanhoonacker, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands 'Kosovo’s Foreign Policy and Bilateral Relations shows how a recently independent state whose statehood is contested in some quarters has nonetheless managed to establish itself as a diplomatic actor with its own foreign policy. This timely and interesting volume combines insights and experiences from both academics and practitioners on Kosovar strategies in the field and the obstacles that had to be dealt with.' Thomas Conzelmann, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands 'Everything you need to know and more about Kosovo’s place on the global stage appears in this rich edited book. Liridon Lika and his contributors have done an excellent job in analysing Kosovo both as a subject and actor of international relations, in its pre-and-post independence period. The contributions provide a comprehensive and multidimensional analysis of the bilateral relations forged by Kosovo both with traditional powers and with new States, such as those emerging from the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The book provides very useful knowledge for anyone wishing to understand how diplomacy helps shape the trajectory of a new State and its preferences in international affairs. The book also makes a genuine academic contribution, filling a void on a topic that is at present poorly researched. It is a meaningful collaborative project combining stimulating academic contributions from the Balkans, Europe, and the United States.' Sebastian Santander, Director of the Center for International Relations Studies (CEFIR) and Head of the Department of Political Science, University of Liège, Belgium