Citizens without states: the implications of non-recognition for people in de facto states
RESEARCH PAPER
To look at a map of the world, it would appear that its landmass has been divided into a complex, but clearly defined, tapestry of distinct entities – the 193 member states of the United Nations. However, within many of these de jure states there exist numerous other forms of governance which claim de facto authority or statehood – in some cases, they claim authority over a state’s whole territory instead of the internationally recognised (de jure) government (as in Afghanistan, Myanmar and Yemen), while in others they claim the independence of a part of an internationally recognised state’s territory (as in the cases of Somaliland, Abkhazia and Transnistria).
This joint paper with ODI explores the effects of international non-recognition of de facto states on civilians living in those territories. It finds that while approaches to de facto states and authorities remain ad hoc, there is greater scope for engagement than the status quo suggests. But more research is required into the political viability of different approaches to engagement with de facto states, and their outcomes for civilians.
