By James Ker-Lindsay
The London School of Economics and Political Science - November 16, 2013
Until recently the subject of recognition received relatively scant
attention amongst politics and international relations academics. Long
the preserve of international law scholars, the topic was often seen as
rather dry and pointless. However, in recent years, this perception has
started to change with the emergence of a number of states that have yet
to establish a firm and uncontested presence on the world stage.
At the more successful end of the scale
is Kosovo. After having unilaterally declared independence in 2008, it
is now recognised by the majority of UN members. In contrast, South Ossetia and Abkhazia have only been recognised by Russia and a handful of other countries. Then there are Nagorno-Karabakh and Transnistria,
which have yet to be recognised by any UN members. Meanwhile, a number
of other territories, such Kurdistan, seem poised to make a claim for
full statehood in the years ahead. Against this backdrop, the subjects
of secession and recognition are therefore becoming an ever more
interesting area of study, especially as many of the seemingly arcane
theoretical issues regarding statehood and recognition – such as the
possibility of engaging with these states without recognising them –
have become pressing questions for policy makers.
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