Kosovo and Statehood: The Battle for Recognition and the Fight Against De-recognition with Dr Gezim Visoka.Dr Gëzim Visoka is the Associate Dean for Research in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies in the School of Law and Government at Dublin City University (DCU). Dr Visoka is a leading international scholar on statehood and state recognition, and post-conflict peacebuilding and statebuilding. His research focuses on the making, remaking, and unmaking of states and peace processes in contemporary world politics. He is the author and editor of 12 published books, over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles, and over 25 book chapters published with leading university presses and global academic publishers. Among his published works are: The Derecognition of States (2024); The Oxford Handbook of Peacebuilding, Statebuilding, and Peace Formation (with Oliver P. Richmond, 2021), Normalization in World Politics (with Nicolas Lemay-Hébert, 2021); and Palgrave Encyclopaedia of Peace and Conflict Studies (with Oliver P. Richmond, 2021). His work has been with leading international peer-reviewed journals, such as: Nature, International Affairs, European Journal of International Relations, Journal of Common Market Studies; Geopolitics; Review of International Studies; Cooperation and Conflict; International Studies Review; Foreign Policy Analysis; International Peacekeeping; and Civil Wars. Dr Visoka is the founding Editor of Routledge Studies in Statehood (Taylor & Francis), and Co-Editor of Rethinking Peace and Conflict Studies (Palgrave) together with Oliver P. Richmond and Annika Björkdahl). When Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, it was a significant moment in the post-conflict Balkans.However, for a state to be recognised, it must meet specific criteria under international law.States do not exist in a vacuum. Geopolitics and diplomacy play a significant role in either supporting or hindering a state's ability to thrive on the international stage and become part of the so-called international society.For smaller states like Kosovo, a multifaceted diplomatic effort is essential. Yet, in the face of an aggressor like the state of Serbia, Kosovo continues to struggle against the efforts of its neighbour, undermining its sovereignty and legitimacy in the global arena.Kosovo's path to independence and its ongoing struggle for recognition make it a compelling case for the study of statehood, sovereignty, and international diplomacy.To delve into the key aspects and trajectory of Kosovo's Independence, I spoke with Dr. Gezim Visoka.We discussed his research on statehood, Kosovo's struggle for recognition, and his latest book, The Derecognition of States.Intro music: North-Albanian instrumental.Interlude: Ilir Shaqiri - 'Udhet e Mia'.