On the Way to Statehood

The present international order is characterized by the rapid globalization of economic activity, by systematic attempts to coordinate state responses to the outbreaks of violence as well as by unilateral military interventions against sovereign states either by the USA or by one of its regional allies. Secessionist movements have adapted to this international order in a variety of ways. In the past decade, secessionist movements have also taken advantage of the readiness of states to militarily intervene in order to gain international legitimacy and recognition. This collection explores the changes that the current international order has brought to the theory and practice of recognition of secessionist claims and to the conditions for secessionist mobilization.The chapters in this book address one or other of the following four interdependent questions: How do independence movements achieve legitimacy amongst both their target populations and outside states; How do the forces of increasing economic globalization and political interdependence impact on secessionist mobilization? How do the outside states, in the post-colonial era, recognize the independence of new states? and, How can the claims to independent statehood be justified within normative theories of secession and international law? These questions are explored both through comparative analysis within legal, international relations and political science frameworks and through an examination of several recent attempts at secession.