The dissertation is devoted to modern quasi-states, which are various political entities that claim the role of the state, but have lost it or are unable to achieve it.
The relevance of the research topic is determined by the existing of numerous quasi-states in the world, particularly in the internationally recognized territory of Ukraine. Given that the number of countries in the world is gradually increasing, therefore more and more new quasi-states are arising. Their unregulated status and the surrounding military conflicts are a constant threat to global peace and security. At the same time, the world community often ignores the problem and, on the contrary, uses quasi-states as an instrument or platform for geopolitical struggle. In addition, governments of the most powerful and most developed countries in the world often face this problem and are forced to fight with certain manifestations of quasi-statehood.
Quasi-statehood is an essential feature of the quasi-state. This feature resides in a fact that a quasi-state is not a state, but it seeks to be one or look as one. This factor has a dominant influence on the foreign and domestic policy of the quasi-states, regardless of their origin and current situation. The paper examines three aspects of quasi-statehood, such as institutional, functional and international; provides a detailed description of types of quasi-states; submits methods and recommendations for both combating the manifestations of quasi-statehood and for solving problem of the quasi-states on local and global levels.
Institutional inconsistency is the characteristics of a complex political system testifying the existence of significant weaknesses of its institutions and the contradictions between them, which are due to the imperfect internal organization of these institutions. Usually this problem is reflected in the legislation, traditions of political culture, or it is caused by various negative factors (economic, political, security etc). The institutional aspect of quasi-statehood is best manifested in micronations, politicized communities imitating the activities of state authorities and the exercise of certain state functions, mostly by non-violent means.
Functional incapacity is the characteristic of the political institution, when it does not fulfill the assigned tasks, and its activity does not contribute to the realization of the purpose for which it was founded, due to the negative internal or external factors or both. The functional aspect of quasi-statehood is most fully expressed in the failed state, a kind of quasi-state characterized the serious internal and external political difficulties in its activities despite the existence of the formal legal status of the state, including broad international legal recognition and membership in international organizations.
New quasi-state is usually a product of separatism processes and / or serves as an instrument of geopolitical struggle. So, world community usually denies their right to independent existence, which leads to the emergence of unrecognized states. This type of quasi-states is characterized by a certain controlled territory, a loyal population and a lack of broad international legal recognition. All their external and internal activities are subordinated to the goal of self-legitimization; it means to convince the population in the controlled the territory and the international community of their own right to exist.
The theoretical positions and conclusions of the dissertation may be used during further researches of this problem conducted by experts working in the field of political science, international relations, international law, conflict studies, geopolitics, the modern history of Ukraine and foreign countries etc. It is also advisable to use the above materials in the development of curricula and special higher education courses. In addition, the results of the dissertation may be useful in drafting legislation, developing political decisions, preparing for diplomatic negotiations related to issues of quasi-states.
