This research aims to find out the reasons why Palestine and Kosovo could not get general international recognition and become members of the UN and also to assess the plausibility of two theories regarding their explanations for states’ decisions toward the recognition of new states (Palestine and Kosovo in our case).
This master thesis elaborates the issue of new states and their struggle for gaining general international recognition. It fits in the field of International Relations since it deals with the issue of possible new members in the international society of states, which can have an impact on global issues and threats that are of common relevance.
Some states that have been created since the end of the 1980s have achieved to gain general recognition like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Eritrea, Moldova, and Timor-Leste. Some other states, also created (or separated from a parent state) have not achieved to gain general recognition. Such states are Palestine, Kosovo, Abkhazia, and Somaliland.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1. INTRODUCTION
- 2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW
- 2.1 INTRODUCTION
- 2.2 INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION OF STATES
- 2.2.1 THE DECLARATORY THEORY OF RECOGNITION
- 2.2.2 THE CONSTITUTIVE THEORY OF RECOGNITION
- 2.2.3 A MIDDLE GROUND THEORY ON RECOGNITION
- 2.3 REALISM
- 2.3.1 CLASSICAL REALISM
- 2.3.2 STRUCTURAL REALISM (NEOREALISM)
- 2.3.3 CLASSICAL REALISM vs. STRUCTURAL REALISM
- 2.3.4 A (NEO) REALIST THEORY OF STATE ACTION IN FOREIGN POLICY
- 2.4 THE FRAME FOR ANALYSIS
- 2.5 CONCLUSION
- 3. METHODOLOGY
- 3.1 POSSIBILITY OF CHOICES
- 3.2 THE CHOSEN RESEARCH DESIGN
- 3.3 DETAILED REPORT ON METHODOLOGY
- 4. PALESTINE, KOSOVO AND TIMOR-LESTE – BACKGROUND ON STATE CREATION AND CURRENT SITUATION REGARDING RECOGNITION
- 4.1 INTRODUCTION
- 4.2 PALESTINE
- 4.3 KOSOVO
- 4.4 TIMOR-LESTE
- 4.5 CONCLUSION
- 5. RESEARCH RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
- 5.1 INTRODUCTION
- 5.2 PALESTINE'S NON-RECOGNIZERS AND THEIR REASONS
- 5.2.1 'NON-RECOGNIZERS' THAT VOTED ‘PRO' PALESTINE
- 5.2.2 'NON-RECOGNIZERS' THAT ABSTAINED IN THE VOTING FOR PALESTINE
- 5.2.3 'NON-RECOGNIZERS' THAT VOTED AGAINST PALESTINE
- 5.3 KOSOVO'S NON-RECOGNIZERS AND THEIR REASONS
- 5.3.1 'NON-RECOGNIZERS' THAT VOTED ‘PRO' KOSOVO IN UNESCO
- 5.3.2 'NON-RECOGNIZERS' THAT ABSTAINED FOR KOSOVO IN UNESCO
- 5.3.3 'NON-RECOGNIZERS' THAT VOTED AGAINST KOSOVO IN UNESCO
- 5.3.4 'NON-RECOGNIZERS' THAT DID NOT VOTE AT ALL FOR KOSOVO IN UNESCO
- 5.4 EVALUATION OF HYPOTHESES AND DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS
- 5.4.1 EVALUATION OF THE HYPOTHESES
- 5.4.2 DISCUSSION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE RESULTS
- 5.5 CONCLUSION
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This master's thesis investigates the challenges new states face in achieving international recognition, focusing on the cases of Palestine, Kosovo, and Timor-Leste. The study aims to assess the explanatory power of recognition theories (declaratory and constitutive) and (neo)realist theory in understanding why Palestine and Kosovo lack full international recognition. It also seeks to identify patterns in states' recognition decisions and predict the conditions under which Palestine and Kosovo might gain UN membership.
- International recognition of new states
- Comparative analysis of Palestine, Kosovo, and Timor-Leste
- The role of recognition theories (declaratory and constitutive) in explaining state behavior
- The influence of realism (classical and structural) on foreign policy decisions regarding recognition
- Conditions for UN membership for unrecognized states
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the topic of international recognition of new states, highlighting the cases of Palestine, Kosovo, and Timor-Leste as examples of varying success in achieving this recognition. It establishes the research question—why Kosovo and Palestine remain unrecognized—and outlines the methodology and theoretical framework for the study, which include recognition theories and (neo)realism.
2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK AND LITERATURE REVIEW: This chapter lays the groundwork by examining existing theories on state recognition, including the declaratory and constitutive theories, and explores the relevance of realism (both classical and structural) in understanding states' foreign policy decisions concerning recognition of new entities. It reviews previous research on Kosovo and Timor-Leste, highlighting the gap in scholarly literature focused solely on the international recognition aspects of these cases.
3. METHODOLOGY: This chapter details the research design employed in the thesis. It explains the choice of case studies (Palestine, Kosovo, and Timor-Leste) and justifies the comparative approach, outlining how the research will examine the reasons behind the differing levels of international recognition achieved by these states.
4. PALESTINE, KOSOVO AND TIMOR-LESTE – BACKGROUND ON STATE CREATION AND CURRENT SITUATION REGARDING RECOGNITION: This chapter provides a historical overview of the creation of Palestine, Kosovo, and Timor-Leste, examining the political and legal contexts surrounding their emergence as distinct entities. It explores the current status of each state concerning international recognition, highlighting the significant differences in their levels of recognition and the resulting political implications.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
International recognition, statehood, Palestine, Kosovo, Timor-Leste, declaratory theory, constitutive theory, realism, neorealism, foreign policy, UN membership, international relations.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the focus of this academic work?
This master's thesis investigates the challenges new states face in achieving international recognition, focusing specifically on the cases of Palestine, Kosovo, and Timor-Leste. It aims to understand why some states achieve full recognition while others, like Palestine and Kosovo, do not.
What theoretical frameworks are used?
The study uses a comparative approach, drawing on recognition theories (declaratory and constitutive) and realist perspectives (classical and structural realism) to analyze state behavior regarding recognition. It examines how these theories can explain the varying levels of international recognition achieved by the three case studies.
What are the main research questions?
The central research question is: Why do Palestine and Kosovo lack full international recognition? The study also seeks to identify patterns in states' recognition decisions and predict conditions under which Palestine and Kosovo might gain UN membership.
Which states are analyzed and why?
The thesis uses a comparative case study approach focusing on Palestine, Kosovo, and Timor-Leste. These states represent different levels of success in achieving international recognition, providing a rich context for analysis and comparison.
What is the methodology employed?
The methodology involves a detailed examination of the historical and political contexts surrounding the creation of each state. The study analyzes voting patterns in international organizations (like the UN) to understand why some states recognize these entities while others do not. The research design justifies the comparative approach by outlining how it will examine the reasons behind the differing levels of international recognition.
What are the key themes explored?
Key themes include international recognition of new states, comparative analysis of Palestine, Kosovo, and Timor-Leste, the role of recognition theories, the influence of realism on foreign policy decisions concerning recognition, and the conditions for UN membership for unrecognized states.
How are the research results presented?
The results are presented through a discussion of the reasons behind recognition and non-recognition decisions made by different states regarding Palestine and Kosovo. This includes analyzing the actions of states that voted "pro," abstained, or voted against recognition in relevant international forums. The study evaluates its initial hypotheses and interprets the findings in the context of the theoretical framework.
What are the key findings (in brief)?
The key findings are presented through an evaluation of the hypotheses proposed earlier in the study and a comprehensive discussion and interpretation of the research results. These findings aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexities surrounding international recognition of new states.
What are the key words associated with this work?
Key words include: International recognition, statehood, Palestine, Kosovo, Timor-Leste, declaratory theory, constitutive theory, realism, neorealism, foreign policy, UN membership, international relations.
What is included in the "Table of Contents"?
The Table of Contents provides a detailed breakdown of the thesis, including an introduction, a review of relevant literature and theoretical frameworks, methodology, background information on the three case studies (Palestine, Kosovo, and Timor-Leste), presentation and analysis of research results, and conclusions. Each chapter is further divided into sub-sections.
- Quote paper
- Tahir Lushi (Author), 2016, State Creation and the International Recognition of New States. The Examples of Palestine, Kosovo and Timor-Leste, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1025369
