1st Edition

A Theory of De Facto States Classical Realism and Exceptional Polities

By Lucas Knotter Copyright 2024
212 Pages
by Routledge

212 Pages
by Routledge

212 Pages
by Routledge

A Theory of De Facto States offers a new perspective on the phenomenon of de facto states — political communities that manifest forms of statehood in international politics but lack international legal recognition — zooming in on two prominent examples, Somaliland and Kosovo. Employing a thorough understanding of classical realist theories of international relations, this book provides a... Read more

Introduction: De Facto States as Exceptional Polities in International Relations

On De Facto States

De Facto States as Exceptional Polities

Classical Realism and De Facto Statehood

‘Knowing’ De Facto States?

References

 

1. Law, Discourse, Limbo: De Facto Statehood and Regularity

De Facto States and International Law

De Facto States and International Relations Discourse

De Facto States ‘Stuck in Limbo’

Conclusion

References

 

2. Classical Realism: De Facto Statehood and Exceptionality

In Defence of Classical Realism

Classical Realist De Facto Sovereignty

The Exceptionality of De Facto States

References

 

3. Somaliland: De Facto Sovereignty in an Exceptional Polity

De Facto Statehood vs. De Jure Recognition

Hybridity, Decentralisation, and De Facto Statehood

State Crises

State Ideals

Somaliland as an Exceptional Polity

References

 

4. The Democratic League of Kosovo: De Facto Sovereignty in a Parallel State?

The Democratic League of Kosovo and its ‘Parallel State’

The Parallel State ‘in Limbo’

De Facto Sovereignty and the Parallel State

Conclusion

References

 

5. Kosovo’s Future: De Jure Sovereignty or Exceptional Polity?

Kosovo’s Exceptional Foundations

Kosovo’s De Facto Statehood and International Law

Kosovo’s Exceptional Maintenance

Ever a De Facto State?

References

 

Conclusion: Borges’s World Map

An Epistemological ‘Double Move’

An Ontological ‘Triple Move’

Are De Facto States ‘States’?

References

Biography

Lucas Knotter is Lecturer at the University of Bath, UK. He is an Associate Editor for 9DASHLINE. He specialises in themes of secession, state creation, and theories of international politics and security.