This chapter positions Kosovo as a paradigmatic case of a quasi-state that illustrates the structural constraints of geopolitical contestation by great powers resulting from the limited international recognition of Kosovo. The analysis foregrounds the role of great powers in shaping Kosovo’s international status, showing how the United States and the European Union advanced a liberal interventionist and recognition agenda, while Russia and other non-Western actors resisted Kosovo’s statehood in order to challenge Western hegemony and reinforce multipolarity. Despite its precarious situation, Kosovo has pursued a “hybrid diplomacy,” using functional participation in international and regional organizations to gradually realize its statehood and gain legitimacy. Nevertheless, Kosovo’s prospects for universal recognition and integration into the international system continue to be constrained by persistent challenges such as rivalry between great powers, derecognition campaigns, vetoes in high-profile institutions, and internal governance limitations.