Introduction

Abstract

Alluding to his involvement in the developing world, former President Bill Clinton quipped: ‘I like working on it because it’s not a particularly sexy topic’.¹ Among scholars in international relations, the phenomenon of what can loosely be called non-recognized states would no doubt qualify as an unsexy subject. Of the various types of wayward actors in world politics — including pariah or rogue countries — that of purported states lacking conventional international recognition is probably the least appealing to researchers. Sceptics in the fraternity would even question whether the topic merits academic inquiry. Yet because they are square pegs in a world of round holes, these presumptive states hold an attraction for a small band of students in international relations.