Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

The Origins And Evolution Of De Facto States: Implications For Iraqi Kurdistan, Zheger Hassan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

De facto states, defined as entities that possess control over a defined territory, population, and government, but without recognition from other states, have become increasingly important over the past three decades. Although the universe of cases is small (there have been 24 de facto states since the 1960s), de facto states play an important role in regional security and stability. Despite this relevance, we still know little about why de facto states emerge, how their preferences are formed, and what shapes their behaviour and decision-making. Shedding light on these overlooked issues will allow us to better understand the role of …