The Collective Recognition of States

Abstract

This book presents a comprehensive study of collective diplomatic state recognition, a concept that has remained relatively under‑explored. It conceptualises how collective recognition positions are expressed through international organisations in institutional ways (e.g. membership) or with declarations. It theorises about how this collective recognition impacts international relations, specifically the responses of international organisations to statehood conflicts, where recognition issues are particularly complex. It does so by examining a wide range of international organisations and their responses to past and present statehood claims, including detailed studies of Kosovo, Timor‑Leste, and Northern Cyprus. Analysis synthesises International Relations scholarship with insights from a range of disciplines, particularly international law and conflict studies, and draws on extensive original data collected via archival research, elite and expert interviews and observations during multiple research trips. The study argues that state recognition is not a simple binary but manifests in different degrees, whether collective or individual, and that these degrees also fluctuate over time. These degrees of recognition also inform the kinds of involvement international organisations pursue in disputed territories, such as state‑building. And although these collective recognition-related processes are seemingly top-down, statehood claimants exhibit distinct agency in engaging with them. In this way, the book examines how key aspects of sovereignty, especially recognition but also the ability to govern territories, shift over time and influence one another. It shows that sovereignty is fluid and dynamic, constantly shaped by interactions among different actors. This perspective contributes to a better understanding of the state and its role in international relations.