Powerful allies. A case study on state behaviour concerning recognition of sovereignty

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2016-07-13

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en

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This thesis contains a study on the recognition of sovereignty by permanent member states in the United Nations Security Council. Structural realism and social constructivism both predict when states would recognise the sovereignty of new states. These theories were applied to the cases of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) and South Sudan. The former is not recognised as a sovereign state while the latter is. The results of this study indicate that the interests of regional allies play a crucial role during sovereignty recognition. In the case of the SADR, France and the United States of America refrain from recognizing the SADR because it is against Moroccan interests. Morocco being allied to France and the US. This result strengthens part of the structural realist framework. Other hypothesis could not explain the difference in sovereign recognition between the SADR and South Sudan. These hypotheses included: natural resources, the regional balance of power and the perception of the candidate state.

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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen