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The aim of this study was to uncover the existence, or possibility of, a Kosovar identity in today’s Kosovo. I intend to discuss the role personal experience plays in confirming or challenging one’s identity, and in this light show how the memories and personal experi-ences of Kosovo Serbs and Albanians endorse their ethnically-based interactions. My research shows that there is no clear idea of what a Kosovar identity means for the people of Kosovo at this time. Their narratives and symbols demonstrate strong affiliation with their ethnic identities, which is seldom contested due to their geographical, educational, and linguistic divisions. For both groups, ethnic identity is much more central than a shared national identity. The possibility of a shared national identity presents an opportunity for two ethnicities who have suffered in war to re-think and reconstruct a common disposition. Nevertheless, before a national identity can take hold in Kos-ovo, there needs to be a continuation of restoring trust on the community level.

The Student Conference on US Affairs (referred to as SCUSA) is a four day conference held annually at The United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. The objective of the conference is to facilitate an interactive and productive discourse on various topics concerning national security and U.S. foreign policy. Students majoring in political science and government are invited as SCUSA delegates where they attend panel discussions, listen to key-note speakers, and participate in roundtable sessions. Discussions at all round-tables focus on specific areas such as Terrorism and Interna-tional Conflict, the end product of these discussions is a policy pro-posal paper. Cadets, trained by West Point‟s Department of Social Sciences, join the round-table delegates and act as table leaders by facilitating round-table discussions. Additionally, there are two indi-viduals with advanced degrees in these areas who help to lead the discussions and serve as subject matter experts. Skidmore College‟s Government Department sent two student delegates to SCUSA ‟62. The central theme of SCUSA ‟62 was “Reconsidering American Hegemony: Facing 21st Century Challenges and the Limits of U.S. Force and Power.” I was assigned to the roundtable on Insurgency, Terrorism, and Internationalized Internal Conflict, along with about 15 other juniors and seniors from all over the coun-try. I personally stressed that any solution to mollify terrorism or internal conflicts would require supporting a powerful military offi-cer who has the ability to restore order. Fellow student delegates from my roundtable argued that resolving insurgencies which threaten U.S. security requires more economic aid, drone attacks and occasional military strikes. I felt that those comments ,

represented the same intellectual arguments that are consistently stated and implemented without any substantial results. For exam-ple, the war-ravaged and unstable nation of Somalia represents a fundamental threat to global security. The U.S. aid and military op-erations in Somalia has never succeeded in restoring any order be-cause our policy was based on strategies that do not work. In my mind finding a local strong leader with the ability to penetrate insur-gent held land is a better strategy because local crises need to be resolved by local political leaders. I kept driving that point in our discussions, which eventually made it on as a proposal.

As a guest of the Military Academy at West Point I was treated with great respect and the events held at the conference were amazing. On the last night of SCUSA, The Academy hosted a recep-tion for the delegates and guests of SCUSA. The reception was fol-lowed by a Keynote address by U.S. Admiral James G. Stavridis, the current Commander of U.S. European Command ( USEUCOM) and NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe ( SACEUR). Admiral Stavridis stressed the issues of cyber-security and nuclear prolifera-tion. Finally, the night ended with an elegant banquet. I spoke with Colonels and former Generals about topics ranging from military spending to uniform changes. The one main lesson I learned from being at SCUSA was to truly appreciate the sacrifice of soldiers be-cause they sacrifice their lives and freedom to protect our security and freedom; and that our military is a special institution and must be used wisely and cautiously. The spirit of the event was amazing and it was a true honor to be a part of that event.