CHARLES UNIVERSITY in PRAGUE Diplomacy and Diplomatic
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CHARLES UNIVERSITY IN PRAGUE FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES Institute of Political Studies | Department of Political Science Geopolitical Studies Diplomacy and Diplomatic Institutions of Unrecognized De Facto States Somaliland, Transnistria and Artsakh Master’s thesis June 2020 Author : Samuel Lavoie Supervisor : Mgr. Martin Riegl, Ph.D ii Abstract As a topic, international recognition has been increasingly studied over the past twenty years, particularly since Kosovo’s unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia in 2008. This thesis attempts to advance our understanding of the underlying causes of the inability to gain political recognition by examining several factors that have been omitted from the academic literature. Specifically, it examines several key aspects of the diplomatic institutions, personnel, and approaches of three unrecognized de facto states that meet most of the criteria for statehood under international law, but have so far received no recognition recognized states. These entities are Somaliland, Transnistria, and Artsakh. This paper also draws on partially recognized states and finds that geopolitical and ideological factors generally prevail over diplomatic ones as the main drivers of political recognition. This is especially true when an entity is located in an area of fierce rivalry for influence, such as the PMR and the Republic of Artsakh. However, while remaining a secondary factor, diplomacy becomes more important for international recognition when the interests of global and regional powers are less at stake. Keywords Unrecognized De Facto States, International Recognition, Diplomatic Institutions, Republic of Somaliland, Transnistria (Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic; PMR), Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh Republic; NKR), Partially Recognized States. iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract . ii Table of Contents . iii Declaration . v List of Abbreviations . vi Introduction . 1 Research Question; Case Studies . 3 Litterature Review . 4 Conceptualization of Key Terms . 7 Chapter 1: Political & Historical Backgrounds . 9 Republic of Somaliland . 7 Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . 12 Republic of Artsakh . 15 Chapter 2: Structural & Legislative Obstacles . 18 Republic of Somaliland . 18 Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . 23 Republic of Artsakh . 27 Legislative Obstacles . 30 Analysis . 31 Chapter 3: Diplomatic International Scope . 35 Republic of Somaliland . 36 Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . 38 Republic of Artsakh . 41 Measurement and Analysis . 42 Chapter 4: Geographic Distribution . 49 4.1 Republic of Somaliland . 49 North America and Europe . 50 Africa . 51 iv Middle East . 54 Asia . 55 Other . 56 Comparision with the SADR & Conclusion . 56 4.2 Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic . 59 Russia . 61 Ukraine . 61 Western States . 62 4.3 Republic of Artsakh . 65 OSCE Minsk Group and Participating Members . 66 Other International Actors . 70 4.4 Analysis & Conclusion . 72 Conclusion . 75 References . 79 Appendix . 85 Appendix II . 87 Appendix III . 89 Appendix IV . 91 Figures and Tables Figure 1 . 44 Figure 2 . 44 Table 1 . 45 Figure 3 . 57 Figure 4 . 57 v “NO OTHER CONCEPT IS AS POWERFUL, VISCERAL, EMOTIONAL, UNRULY, AS STEEP IN CREATING ASPIRATIONS AND HOPES AS SELF-DETERMINATION.” Wolfgang F. Danspeckgruber “IT IS NOT THE CONCEPT OF NATION THAT IS RETROGRADE; IT IS THE IDEA THAT A NATION MUST NECESSARILY BE SOVEREIGN.” Pierre Elliott Trudeau vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ANC-AU Armenian National Committee of Australia AU African Union BRI Belt and Road Initiative CONIFA Confederation of Independent Football Association CIS Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations EU European Union IGO Intergovernmental Organization INGO International Non-Governmental Organization IR International Relations NKAO Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast MFA Ministry of Foreign Affairs MSSR Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic OAU Organization of African Unity OSCE Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe PMR Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic SADR Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic SCO Shanghai Cooperation Organization SNM Somali National Movement SSC Sanaag, Sool and Cayn SSR Soviet Socialist Republic TRNC Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus UN United Nations UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNOSOM United Nations Operations in Somalia UNPO Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organization USC United Somali Congress USSR Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (Soviet Republic) vii 1 INTRODUCTION _________ In the present time, there exist over a dozen unresolved cases of entities seeking external legitimacy around the world. These entities often meet many of the criteria that define sovereign states under international law1, such as having a permanent population, a defined territory and a relatively functioning government. However, they typically encounter obstacles when attempting to develop relations with recognized states and international organizations. Aspiring states may benefit from certain forms of international engagement, but insufficient recognition prevents them from obtaining full membership in the United Nations (UN), the World Bank and other international organizations (with exceptions2), and from enjoying formal state-to-state diplomatic relations with nearly all members of the international community, among other restrictions. There are currently six non-UN states with partial recognition (Taiwan, Western Sahara, Kosovo, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, and Northern Cyprus) and two UN members with.