2026/04/24 by Muhamet Brajshori · 1 voice
Social Sciences · #Middle East Politics and Society #Peacebuilding and International Security #Post-Soviet Geopolitical Dynamics
paper · doi:10.1163/17550920-bja00103
openalex publication_date 2026/04/24 · openalex created_date 2026/05/02 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Abstract This paper examines how contested states, whose sovereignty may be legally recognized yet exercised under conditions of occupation, use symbolic participation in international organizations to advance statehood claims, namely the Symbolic Membership for Aspirational Sovereignty Framework. Focusing on Palestine. It explores how observer status, selective memberships, and strategic accessions have been deployed to assert legitimacy and sustain international attention despite limited recognition. The study highlights both the opportunities and constraints these symbolic strategies pose, revealing their power to mobilize support while also risking politicization and backlash. It argues that symbolic memberships, although insufficient to resolve territorial disputes, are critical tools for maintaining contested claims within global governance structures and shaping evolving norms of legitimacy in international relations.