The Dialectic of History and Myth: The Serbian-Albanian Struggle in Kosovo (1912-2008)

The history of Kosovo constitutes a contested arena, defined by the conflict of two distinct historical narratives. One is the Serbian narrative, often described as mythological in nature, portraying Kosovo as a sacred Serbian province-encompassing its land, people, and history. This vision is imbued with deep religious and national dimensions, rooted in the region’s subjugation to Serbian rule during the medieval period. It has been invoked to justify Serbian control over the territory from 1912 - 1999. In contrast, a widely accepted historical perspective among scholars affirms that the earliest inhabitants of Kosovo were the Illyrians, whose presence in the region has continued through their descendants, the Albanians, up to the present day.