Rejection and Mimesis: Unrecognised Statehood and International Society since Decolonisation

This dissertation examines the historical evolution of state recognition practice from decolonisation to the early 2000s. It analyses how normative shifts in recognition influence state formation projects in contemporary unrecognised states, exploring the cases of the Republic of Biafra and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). Unrecognised statehood is an anomaly within international society, shaped by the interplay between two historical dynamics. These processes involve the legal-political reconfiguration of recognition criteria during periods of acute international expansion, such as the end of colonialism and the dissolution of the Communist Bloc, as well as the proliferation of non-colonial secessionist movements which faced rejection of their statehood bids. Due to a dearth of specific historiography, this research utilises insights from diplomatic history, international law, and international relations theory to historicise the interactions between state recognition and statehood entrepreneurship. To scrutinise historical recognition practices, this investigation concentrates on the foreign policies of the Great Powers and the accommodation strategies implemented by the secessionist regimes in both cases under study. The experiences of Biafra and the TRNC illustrate that achieving legitimacy is quintessential for unrecognised entities. Their marginalised position pushes state entrepreneurs to mimic sovereign states and adhere to their norms. Thus, although recognition is a political act, its legal underpinnings reflect the post-colonial consolidation of an international order which elevated the Western nation-state to a global archetype.