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CEforum: Topic 4
Kosovo Declares Independence from Serbia
World split over independence
Kosovo Serbs' anger mounts

BBC News

Kosovo's new yellow and blue flag has been unveiled
Sunday, 17 February 2008 -- BBC News
On Sunday, 17 February 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.
See the story, "Kosovo MPs proclaim independence"
and
the latest related news items at BBC News--Europe.
An article in Sunday's Minneapolis Star Tribune noted: "The move is expected to be quickly followed by formal recognition by the United States and many, but not all, of the European Union's member states. Some E.U. countries, including Spain, fear that Kosovo's independence will embolden separatists elsewhere on the continent" [like, for example, the Basques and the Catalans in Spain].
Other comments/observations include...
"Serbia's [Prime Minister] denounced the US for helping create a 'false state'." .... "Serbia's Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica blamed the US which he said was 'ready to violate the international order for its own military interests'."
"Police clash with protesters in Belgrade".
"The diplomatic gulf between Russia and many Western governments is widening with the declaration of independence by Kosovo".
"The UN Security Council went into emergency session on Sunday evening after Russia called for the United Nations to declare the Kosovo declaration illegal".
Of great concern is what might happen to the Serb minority (10%) in the newly-declared Kosovo nation.

Sitting Bull
On the 19th of December 2007, the Lakota Sioux Indians in the United States declared Sovereign Nation Status
indicating, as Kosovo did just a few weeks later,
that they were now an independent nation.
See "Lakota withdraw from treaties, declare independence from U.S."
and
"Lakota Sioux Indians Declare Sovereign Nation Status".
Questions: |
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What is your opinion about the right of Kosovo to declare itself an independent nation? |
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Why? |
| 2. |
What do you think the Kosovo Declaration of Independence will mean to the EU, and to international relations in general? |
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Why? |
| 3. |
How would you compare the Kosovo Declaration of Independence with the Lakota Sioux Declaration of Independence? |
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Why? |
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Features of the Day
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Pick or narrow topic for Term Paper and Class Presentation
- identify the topic, or short list of topics (1-3), that you have selected (or are thinking about) along with a one- or two- sentence statement of what you expect/hope to do with your term paper and class presentation topic
- e-mail that to troufs@d.umn.edu
- or drop it in your WebDrop folder at <https://webdrop.d.umn.edu>
- be sure to include the name of the class in the e-mail
- Due: no later than tomorrow evening
(If you have already done this you do not need to repeat it, but do send in questions you may have about your topic)
- class presentations start on 15 April 2008, after Exam II,
Week 12 Day 23
- Review

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Old Business
- Europe as an ethnographic "culture area"
- Methods: Units of analysis / cultural metaphors (slides)
- NOTE: This information could be useful in selecting your research topic, which you should be prepared to identify next time in class
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Notes
- Thursday 14 February 2008: Finished "Master Ethnographic Texts and 'Classics'
in the Anthropology of Europe" (slides)
- Tuesday, 19 February 2008: Methods: Finished Units of analysis / cultural metaphors (slides), to #96, "Units of analalysis may include a nation, the item or action itself, a "cultural metaphor"
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