Unrecognized States and Secession in the 21st Century

Martin Riegl is an assistant professor at the Institute of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague. He is a coordinator of the Geopolitical Studies and International Economic and Political Studies Master´s programmes and one of heads of the Geopolitical Studies Research Centre. His area of expertise comprises issues of state failure, unrecognized states, state recognition, and secession as well as general geopolitics with focus on sub-Saharan Africa.
Bohumil Dobos is a PhD student at the Institute of Political Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University in Prague. He is also a coordinator of the Geopolitical Studies Research Centre. His main areas of expertise are neomedieval geopolitics, territoriality of non-state actors, and astropolitics.

This book presents novel theoretical and empirical findings on the issue of unrecognized states and secession. The first part of the book conceptualizes unrecognized states as entities with a national identity and which have achieved political independence, yet are not internationally recognized as independent states. It also addresses topics such as the role of superpowers in secessionist conflicts, ontological security in post-Soviet states, and factors influencing the legitimacy of secession referenda. In turn, the book's second part presents selected case studies on various secessionist regions and territories, including Kurdistan, the Caucasus, Kosovo, and Bougainville.

Offers novel theoretical and empirical findings on the issue of unrecognized states and secession

Introduction: Secession and Recognition in the 21st Century.- Theoretical Perspectives: Making Peace with De Facto States.- Unrecognized States and National Identity.- Ontological Security of the Post-Soviet de Facto States.- Contemporary Referendum of Independence and Linguistic Aspects of an Intelligible Referendum Question.- (Super)power Rule: Comparative Analysis of Parent States.- Case Studies: Political Institutions in the Post-Soviet de Facto States in Comparison: Abkhazia and Nagorno-Karabakh.- Iran's Problem with Territorial Non-State Actors: A Case Study of Sistan and Balochistan.- Kurdistan Region's Quest for Independent Statehood: Trapped in Internal and Geopolitical Rivalries.- Bougainville - From Conflict to Independence Under the Law?- The Right to Self-Determination or Inviolability of Borders in the Horn of Africa? An African Union Approach.- Long Way to Recognition: Challenges Facing the European "Newborn" from the 2015 Perspective.- Conclusion: Future of International Recognition?.