True, they drive conduct much slower in medieval nations such as the former Yugoslavia, but they control events none the less. The term is not completely descriptive of the separation of the parties, however. While it gets little media attention, its ultimate importance in the dissolution of these conflicts is no less then the conduct of military affairs. Their origin is unknown, but it seems to be the consensus belief is that they are descended from the Illyrians. Many of the Albanians openly collaborated with the Turks, and Kosovo was part of the Albanian administrative regions in the Ottoman empire.
Tribal affiliations are very important, however.
So, a big part of this fight seems to be about hatred of Albanians and Serbs for each other as opposed to a Orthodox vs. Muslim confrontation.