Recognizing States International Society and the Establishment of New States Since 1776

This book examines a central question raised by the new and lingering demands for statehood in different parts of the world: who qualifies for international recognition as a sovereign, independent state? How is it that Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eritrea, Georgia, East Timor and Montenegro have achieved general recognition, but Somaliland, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, Tamil Eelam, Aceh, and Kosovo have not? Why do some cases generate major internationalcontroversies, while others do not? The book answers these questions by charting the historical practice of recognizing states since the late eighteenth century. It should be of keen interest to students of international relations, international law and diplomatic history.

Mikulas Fabry is an Assistant Professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His research focuses on questions of state and governmental legitimacy in international relations and he published several journal articles and chapters in edited volumes on these topics.