Contested States in World Politics

Contested states is the novel term used here for pretender states that fail to attract collective recognition through the UN. Lacking the 'birth certificate' of confirmed statehood, the non-recognized states are condemned to life in international limbo. Among them are Taiwan, Northern Cyprus, Somaliland, Kosovo and Abkhazia. The degree of their diplomatic isolation varies, from Somaliland that has no formal recognition to Kosovo whose self-proclaimed statehood has been recognized by over 40 states. The key feature of all these aspirant states is that their claims to statehood are being contested by the vast majority of existing states, thus causing serious tension in their respective neighbourhoods. To help us understand why they emerge, how they behave and where they may be heading, this book offers an original analytical framework and presents detailed case studies of ten contemporary contested states.

ISBN 0230575528   Pages 312 ISBN13 9780230575523 (What's this?)   Volumes 1 Publisher Palgrave Macmillan   Weight (grammes) 480 Imprint Palgrave Macmillan   Published in Basingstoke Format Hardback   Height (mm) 222 Publication date 22 Apr 2009   Width (mm) 143 DEWEY 341.26   Spine width (mm) 22 DEWEY edition DC22   Academic level Professional / Scholarly

		Introduction		1
Pt. I		Theoretical Perspectives		5
1		Confirmed versus Contested States		7
2		Origins of Contested Statehood		29
3		Alternative Destinations for Contested States		45
Pt. II		Case Studies		67
4		The Eurasian Quartet		69
5		Kosovo		107
6		Somaliland		128
7		Palestine		147
8		Northern Cyprus		170
9		Western Sahara		190
10		Taiwan		208
		Conclusion		234
		Notes		243
		Index		288

'Deon Geldenhuys has written a thorough and engaging treatment of this neglected aspect of world politics. Drawing from his wealth of knowledge in this area, Geldenhuys provides us with the requisite analytical tools and necessary historical depth to make sense of contested statehood, its impact and prospects.' - Chris Alden, London School of Economics, UK 'This book by Deon Geldenhuys, one of South Africa's best-known professors of international politics, examines a little-studied but important phenomenon in world politics: the "wannabe state" -- those self-proclaimed entities that operate like states. This book provides an excellent examination of how and why contested states always have the potential to inflame international tensions.' - Kim Richard Nossal, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada

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