Kosovo, EU member states and the recognition-engagement nexus

In recent years, the subject of recognition and engagement has gained greater attention amongst scholars of international relations. However, the relationship between these two concepts has been underexplored. Drawing on the case of Kosovo’s interaction with nine European Union member states, this chapter argues that the binary categorisations of recognition/engagement versus non-recognition/non-engagement need to be rethought. Instead, a far more complex and nuanced picture emerges of some states that recognise Kosovo, but have little to do with it, and others that do not recognise Kosovo, but interact with it extensively.