Visoka, Gëzim. The Derecognition of States. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2024.

Authors

• Aidan Hehir, University of WestminsterFollow

Abstract

Gëzim Visoka describes the derecognition of states as “a puzzling feature in world politics” (p. 114). This is certainly true. For many decades derecognition was a peripheral concern given it was rarely practiced after the UN was established in 1945; one notable exception being the derecognition of Taiwan, which has been ongoing since the 1950s. In recent years, however, it has become of significantly greater interest as it has become more common; of the five cases Visoka examines – Taiwan, Western Sahara, Abkhazia, South Ossetia, and Kosovo – four are very definitely products of the post-Cold War era. Despite this, Visoka correctly notes that it remains a fundamentally unclear practice, in large part because it has received limited attention; most existing studies takes a narrow legalistic approach (pp. 2-5). The Derecognition of States is thus presented – I believe correctly – as “the first comprehensive, global, and comparative outlook on this underexplored diplomatic practice” (p. 5).

Recommended Citation

Hehir, Aidan (2026) "Visoka, Gëzim. The Derecognition of States. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2024.," Journal of Peace, Conflict, and Security Studies: Vol. 2: Iss. 1, Article 6.
Available at: https://repository.rit.edu/jpcss/vol2/iss1/6