Legitimacy and the Politics of Recognition in Kosovo

Lee J. M. Seymour

Small Wars and Insurgencies, 2017, vol. 28, issue 4-5, 817-838

Abstract: How do contemporary secessionist movements gain international recognition of their claims to self-determination? I argue that international recognition is forthcoming when a sufficient number of states believe a claim to self-determination ought to be accepted. That is, states recognize claims to self-determination when they perceive them to be legitimate. To convince outsiders of the legitimacy of their claims, separatist movements invoke resonant norms and symbols in a moral economy that structures decision-making. I contrast this argument with prevailing explanations of recognition dynamics. To illustrate the argument, I examine the diplomacy surrounding Kosovo’s independence bid and unilateral secession.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1080/09592318.2017.1322335

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