HONOURABLE MENTION Quasi-States in Name Only: How System Integration May Address Somaliland, Eritrea, and the Quasi-State Problem

Authors

  • Graydon Cragg St. Francis Xavier University
  • Jamie Levin St. Francis Xavier University

Abstract

In theory, global politics is built around internationally recognized states – one would be hard pressed to find an area of land anywhere on the planet not claimed by a widely recognized sovereign state. With this sovereignty comes special diplomatic privileges that enable these states to participate in global affairs, the world economy, and crucial security deals, among other things. Many fundamental state actions are only permissible by virtue of recognized sovereignty. So, what happens to the states that fail to earn widespread recognition? This thesis explores states that have long been unrecognized, and attempts to square the circle of novel quasi-statehood. Novel quasi-states (or entities that have seemingly all of the characteristics of a recognized state but lack the legitimacy of recognition) persist in the international system and present a reality antithetical to the perceived status-quo of political theory that operates exclusively around legally and legitimately sovereign states. Examining one of the preeminent examples of novel quasi-statehood, the Republic of Somaliland, in contrast with the similar (but recognized) Eritrea, my thesis presents System Integration as a new lens through which the recognition of states, and the research thereof, may be perceived.

Author Biography

Graydon Cragg, St. Francis Xavier University

Graydon Cragg is a student who is about to begin his studies at the University of Ottawa, pursuing a master’s degree in political science. He has recently graduated with his honours Bachelor of Arts degree in political science (international relations) from St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) in Antigonish, Nova Scotia with First Class Honours. There, he won the John B. Stewart Award for having the highest average in the Political Science in his graduating class, and the Walter Kontak Prize in essay writing. The year prior, he won one of ten scholarships (also based on an essay submission) to travel to Israel and Palestine to encounter the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and its historical and political manifestations, for ten days. His undergraduate thesis (to satisfy the requirements of StFX’s Honours program) was written with Dr. Jamie Levin – this (Quasi-States in Name Only) is that thesis. He worked as Dr. Lavinia Stan’s research assistant from May 2022 to April 2023, and subsequently as the Deputy Chair of the StFX Students’ Union Board of Directors from June 2023 to May 2024. His current research interests include diplomatic recognition, African politics, global North-South relations, and political culture. Because he has just graduated from StFX (and therefore has moved on from his positions at the StFX Students’ Union), and as an upcoming student at the University of Ottawa, he is currently unaffiliated.

Downloads

Published

2025-02-25

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 4 (2024): student

Section

JMSS Awards of Excellence