Dynamics of de facto statehood: the South Caucasian de facto states between secession and sovereignty

2012/05/24 by Helge Blakkisrud, Pål Kolstø · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Health Professions · #Post-Soviet Geopolitical Dynamics #Healthcare, Law, Governance, and Management Studies #Cyprus History, Politics, Society #De facto #Secession #Sovereignty #Political science #Political economy #State (computer science) #Globe #Ethnic group #Law #Sociology #Politics

paper · doi:10.1080/14683857.2012.686013

openalex publication_date 2012/05/24 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29

Abstract

Scattered across the globe there exist a handful of unrecognized statelets. Although some such entities have proven short-lived, others have demonstrated remarkable tenacity. The South Caucasian de facto states – Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh – have existed for almost 20 years now. This article offers a comparative analysis of how these statelets have attempted to consolidate statehood though processes of state- and nation-building. Despite many outward similarities, both ambitions and outcomes have varied greatly. Interestingly, whether the ultimate goal has been independent statehood or status is seen only as a springboard for unification with ethnic kin does not seem to be a decisive point.

Citations

• Autonomy as a Source of Conflict: Caucasian Conflicts in Theoretical Perspective
• The Benefits of Ethnic War: Understanding Eurasia's Unrecognized States

Cited by

• Nagorno-Karabakh conflict [wikipedia]

Related

• Independence or Unification with a Patron State? Not Such Dichotomous Ideas as One Would Think: Evidence from South Ossetia
• Displays of Statehood
• Documenting Territory: Passportisation, Territory, and Exception in Abkhazia and South Ossetia
• The Politics of Identity in Post-Soviet Abkhazia: Managing Diversity and Unresolved Conflict1
• The Derecognition of States