Publisher's Synopsis
The book explores the phenomenon of the de facto statehood in contemporary international relations. The de facto state is almost the inverse of what Robert Jackson has termed the 'quasi-state.' The quasi-state has an ambassador, a flag and a seat at the United Nations but it does not function positively as a viable governing entity. Its limitations, though, do not detract from sovereign legitimacy. The de facto state, on the other hand, lacks legitimacy yet effectively controls a given territorial area and provides governmental services to a specific population. The book begins by addressing the question 'What is the de facto state?' It then moves into a detailed focus on four case studies: Eritrea before independence; Northern Cyprus; Somaliland and Tamil Eelam. The book engages in a birth, life and death or evolution examination of the de facto state and it concludes by assessing the academic and policy implications of these entities.
