Making Peace with De Facto States
Making Peace with De Facto States

Summary/Abstract: De facto states have proved to be much more durable than initially expected and the literature on these entities has also come a long way. The internal dynamics of de facto states are now better understood, and previous simplifications have been replaced by much more sophisticated and nuanced analysis. This article looks at three remaining, and interlinked, challenges for the literature: the concept itself, the effects of non-recognition and the impact of our improved understanding of de facto states on the prospect for conflict resolution: how do we make peace with de facto states? The article calls for a widened understanding of de facto states that views them as the end-point of a spectrum of rebel governance, and emphasizes their significant variation when it comes to territorial control, institution-building, political reforms and external linkages. These differences matter when it comes to conflict resolution.

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