On the margins, international society and the de facto state

by Pegg, Scott McDonald

This study exploresthe phenomenon of de facto statehood in contemporary international relations. In essence, the defacto state is almost the inverse ofwhat Robert Jackson has termeci the "quasi-stase." The quasi-state has a flag, a capital city, an ambassaclor, and a seat at the United Nations but it does not hction positively as a viable governing entity. It is generaiiy incapable of delivering services to its population and the scope of its govemance ofien does not extend beyond the capital city, if even there. The quasi-state's empirical limitations, however, do not detract fiom its &jure sovereign Iegitimacy which is extemaiiy guaranteed by the other members of international society. The alefao state, on the other hand, though lacking dejure legitimacy, does effectively control a given temtoriai area and pmvide govermental services to a specific population which accords it a degree ofpopular support. Ln spite of the vast literahire on such topics as sovereignty, the state, secession, and seIf-determination, there has not yet ban any systematic study of the causes and implications of & facto statehood for international relations. It is this gap in the literature which tbis study aims to redress. It does so in four main ways. First, this study addresses the question "Whsttis the akfacto state?" It advances a working definition and ten theoretical criteria to delineate the &facto state as a separate categov of actor in international politics worthy of analysis in its own right. This theoretical endeavor is then fleshed out and operationaüzedthrough a detailed focus on four case studies: (1) Eritrea before it won its independenceh m Ethiopia; (2) the parts of Sri Lanka controiied by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam; (3) the Republic of Somaiiiand; and (4) the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Second, the study engages in a birth, We, and death or evolution examination of the ukfacto state. Here we are concerneci with such questions as "What&ors in the contemporary intemational system produce the phenomenon of & facto statehood?"; "What impact do defa0 States have on international law and international society?"; " How are defa0 States dealt with by other actors in international politics? " ; and "Whatsort of transformations might we expect to see these entities undergo in the fùture? " Third, the study evaluatesthe potential impact ofthis phenomenon on the academic study of international relations. In partidar, it assesses the si@cance of & facto statehood for international theory as a whole and for specific theoretical perspectives such as realism, rationalism, feminism, and post-modemism. Finally, the study considers the practical and poticy impticatiom of these entities. Spdcaiiy, it asks "What, ifanything, can or shouid be done about this phenomenon?" The study concludes by offerhg a series of poticy recommen~ons desigaed to facilitate the accommodation of akfaclo stats within the contemporaty international system. Table ofContents Abstrcct