A Talk on De Facto States Held at CIU

At a seminar organized by the Cyprus and Mediterranean Studies Center (CYPMED) of Cyprus International University (CIU), Prof. Dr. Eiki Berg, a faculty member at the University of Tartu, was hosted as a guest speaker. As one of the leading figures in the literature on de facto states, Prof. Dr. Berg addressed the position of entities that function as states in practice despite lacking international recognition, within a comprehensive framework of the international system.

Berg evaluated the relationships these entities establish with their patron states. While discussing the military, economic, and political dimensions of these asymmetrical relationships, he emphasized that mutual interests also play a decisive role. In this context, he noted that levels of dependency and institutional structures vary across different examples of de facto states.

The presentation also examined the economic and political relations that de facto states maintain with the states they have separated from, as well as their decision-making processes. It was highlighted that the balance between internal political dynamics and external support mechanisms can influence the room for maneuver of these entities. In assessments regarding periods of crisis, attention was drawn to differences in institutional capacity among de facto states.

The seminar, attended extensively by CIU faculty members as well as undergraduate and graduate students, concluded with a question-and-answer session.