The Gagauz Republic: Internal Dynamics of De Facto Statehood

Marcin Kosienkowski

Abstract


The post-Soviet area is a home for a several de facto states, which are entities that resemble "normal" states but lack international recognition. This paper examines a historical and under-researched case study of the Gagauz Republic (Gagauzia), a de facto state that existed within Moldova between 1990 and 1995. Drawing on a new suite of sources – interviews, memoirs and journalism – it analyses the territorial, military, political, and socio-economic dimensions of the Gagauz de facto statehood, tracing how the Gagauz authorities proceeded in consolidating Gagauzia’s statehood through processes of state- and nation-building. This study concludes that the Gagauz leadership was moderately successful in its activities.

Keywords


the Gagauz Republic; Gagauzia; de facto state; state-building; nation-building

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References


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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/k.2017.24.1.115
Date of publication: 2018-06-07 12:09:58
Date of submission: 2016-09-28 13:22:59


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