Seminar: Neue Staaten im internationalen System

(Dr. Andr Bank, Universitt Hamburg, SS 2014)

ame! "inn#$ennart B%de
&atrike'#r.! ()*2)(*
Datum! 2).0(.2014
Text Review: Quasi-States: Sovereignty, International Relations and the Third World by
Robert H !a"#son, $ages %&-&%
+n ,is B%%k -States and Quasi-States: Sovereignty, International Relations and the Third World.,
/%bert 0a1ks%n %ut'ines a 1%n1e2t t% di33erentiate states based %n vari%us 1riteria 1%n1erning states4
stabi'it5 sin1e be1%ming inde2endent. 6ub'is,ed in 1770, t,e given e8tra1t intr%du1es t,e term %3
.9uasi-States as an a'ternative t% t,e genera' understanding %3 an estab'is,ed state. "%1using
2rimari'5 %n 3%rmer 1%'%nia' states, 0a1ks%n dis1usses t,e :a5 ne:'5 emerged states ,ave
deve'%2ed in terms %3 e1%n%mi1 and 2%'iti1a' stabi'it5, dem%1rati1 1%ns%'idati%n, and 1ivi'
deve'%2ment. +n t,e 1enter %3 ,is e'ab%rati%n, ,e dem%nstrates t,e 1%mm%n 1,ara1teristi1s ;uasi#
states ,ave and :,5 t,e5 are ab'e t% sustain t,emse'ves as s%vereign states, regard'ess %3 vari%us
d%mesti1 2r%b'ems t,e5 3a1e.
<,e e8tra1t starts :it, an imaginar5 =%urne5 ba1k in time t% t,e 5ear 17*(, :,ere 0a1ks%n des1ribes
a 3i1ti%na' 1%nversati%n :it, a britis, 1ivi' servant, t% :,%m ,e e82'ains ,%: and :,5 t,e Britis,
>m2ire gave u2 t,eir %verseas 1%'%nies. 0a1ks%n e82'ains t,at a3ter ?%r'd ?ar ++ .str%ng and
in1reasing 2ressure %3 internati%na' ega'itarianism@ 'ed t% 1%'%nia' 2%:ers giving inde2enden1e t%
t,e 1%'%nies regard'ess %3 t,eir 1a2abi'it5 t% se'3#g%vern. 0a1ks%n sees vari%us reas%ns 3%r t,is
sudden 1,ange in attitude t%:ards 1%'%nia'ism. Besides it being .essentia''5 n%rmative@, ,e argues
t,at a3ter t,e :ar and t,e arising cold war as a ba1kgr%und 3a1t%r, t,e internati%na' envir%nment ,ad
be1%me .re1e2tive t% anti#1%'%nia' ide%'%gies@(2.1(). <,e rig,t 3%r se'3#determinati%n, a11%rding t%
0a1ks%n, :as instituti%na'iAed b5 t,e U and, sin1e 174), ,as 'ed t% %n'5 %ne remaining
1%nstituti%na' 1ateg%r5 in t,e internati%na' :%r'd! s%vereign states (2.1B).
e8t, 0a1ks%n e82'ains t,at even t,%ug, inde2enden1e :as granted t% 3%rmer 1%'%nies making t,em
s%vereign states, a .%rt,#S%ut, ga2@ remained unim2aired b5 t,e states4 ne:'5 gained 'ega' status.
He argues t,at t,is ga2 is n%: based %n une;ua' standards %3 'iving (2.1C).
0a1ks%n g%es %n t% sa5 t,at t,e 1,ange in internati%na' s%1iet5 t,at 1ame a'%ng :it, de1%'%niAati%n
is .2rimari'5 =uridi1a'@(2.20), rat,er t,an em2iri1a', :,i1, is a 2%int ,e 2r%1eeds t% make
t,r%ug,%ut t,e given e8tra1t in %rder t% distinguis, bet:een states and ;uasi#states. /eturning t% ,is
ear'ier menti%ned t,esis ab%ut a n%rt,#s%ut, ga2 0a1ks%n argues t,at t,e :%r'd remains divided int%
1%untries %3 ,ig,er and '%:er s%1i%e1%n%mi1 'eve's. Sti'' t%da5, ,e be'ieves a g'%ba' 3au't'ine runs
a'%ng .a22r%8imate'5 t,e same 3r%ntier :,i1, 3%rmer'5 se2arated s%vereign states and
1%'%nies@(2.20). <% veri35 t,is t,esis, ,e re3ers t% 2arameters su1, as t,e World Development Report
and statisti1s %3 mnesty International (2.173).
+n t,e 3%''%:ing 2aragra2, 0a1ks%n s2e1i3ies :it, greater detai', :,at de3ines ;uasi#states as su1,.
D%vernments, :,i1, are de3i1ient in .2%'iti1a' :i'', instituti%na' aut,%rit5, and %rganiAed 2%:er t%
2r%te1t ,uman rig,ts,@ as :e'' as, t,e avai'abi'it5 %3 s%vereign state,%%d4s bene3its being 'imited t%
narr%: e'ites, are =ust s%me %3 t,e simi'arities am%ng ;uasi#states 0a1ks%n menti%ns (2.21). Having
said t,is, ,e e82'ains t,at t,ese em2iri1a' 1%nditi%ns %3 ;uasi#states, as :e'' as, ine;ua'it5 am%ng
states are n%t ne: and 2resents %ne %3 ,is m%st 2r%minent t,esis %3 t,is e8tra1t! t,ere is a 1,ange in
t,e :a5 internati%na' s%1iet5 1%n1eives t,e e8isten1e %3 su1, states(2.2*). A11%rding t% 0a1ks%n,
:eak states are treated as .internati%na' 2r%te1t%rates@, e8em2ted 3r%m t,e 1%ntest 3%r 2%:er(2.2*3).
E%nse;uent'5, :eakness is n% '%nger a t,reat t% s%vereignt5 but a reas%n 3%r internati%na' aid.
6utting t,is 1urrent situati%n int% t,e ,ist%ri1a' 2ers2e1tive %3 :eak states being 3%r1ed t% survive %n
t,eir %:n, %3ten resu'ting in 1%'%niAati%n and e82'%itati%n, 0a1ks%n sees t,is situati%n as a n%ve't5.
"urt,erm%re, t,is situati%n gives an .un;ua'i3ied rig,t t% e8ist and ,ig, 2r%s2e1t t% surviva'@ t%
.1,a%ti1 states@ (2.24). He i''ustrates t,at t,is rig,t is derived 3r%m ne: internati%na' n%rms, su1, as
e8#1%'%nia' se'3#determinati%n and anti#1%'%nia'ism, :,i1, ,as em2%:ered states, regard'ess %3
d%mesti1 2r%b'ems, t% be e;ua' members in internati%na' s%1iet5 (2.24).
<% 1%n1'ude t,is e8tra1t, 0a1ks%n intr%du1es t,e terms negative and 2%sitive s%vereignt5, a 2%'iti1a'
m%di3i1ati%n %3 +saia, Ber'in4s negative and 2%sitive 'ibert5 %3 individua's.
Ber'in de3ines negative 'ibert5 as .t,e area :it,in :,i1, a man 1an a1t un%bstru1ted b5 %t,ers and
2%sitive 'ibert5 as .being %ne4s %:n master@(2.2C33). 0a1ks%n takes u2 t,is t,%ug,t and 2uts it in a
2%'iti1a' 1%nte8t. egative s%vereignt5, ,e sa5s, is .3reed%m 3r%m %utside inter3eren1e@ and
t,ere3%re t,e 'ega' 3%undati%n u2%n :,i1, t%da54s internati%na' s%1iet5 rests. He e82'ains t,at
negative s%vereignt5 is =anus#3a1ed and %n'5 t,e %ut:ard 3a1e 1an =ust b5 'a: be granted t% %t,er
states, un'ike t,e in:ard 3a1e t%:ards a state4s 2%2u'ati%n (2.2C).
+n 1%ntrast 2%sitive s%vereignt5 is 'ess %3 a 'ega' and m%re %3 a 2%'iti1a' attribute and 2resu22%ses
1a2abi'ities :,i1, enab'e g%vernments t% be t,eir %:n masters. 0a1ks%n e82'ains t,at t,e
internati%na' s%1iet5 1an 2r%vide states :it, negative s%vereignt5 t,r%ug, genera' re1%gniti%n and
n%ninterventi%n, 2%sitive s%vereignt5 ,%:ever de2ends %n .t,e a1ti%ns and res%ur1es %3
g%vernments and t,eir 2%2u'ati%ns@(2.*0).
+n genera' t,e given e8tra1t 1%nve5s t:% ver5 easi'5 summed u2 messages, :,i1, are ,ard t%
disagree :it,.
"irst, ;uasi#states e8ist rat,er =uridi1a''5 t,en em2iri1a''5, a 2,rase 0a1ks%n menti%ns a'm%st
e81essive'5. ?,i'st being e;ua' members %3 t,e internati%na' 1%mmunit5 b5 'ega' status, ;uasi#
states 3a1e a variet5 %3 d%mesti1 2r%b'ems, :,i1, 0a1ks%n inter2rets as a 'a1k %3 em2iri1a'
state,%%d. >ven t,%ug, it makes 'itt'e t% n% sense t% disagree :it, t,is statement, ,e remains
im2re1ise ab%ut t,e e8a1t 2arameters ,e a22'ies t% %2erati%na'iAe 1ertain 1riteria, 3%r instan1e,
.g%vernment de3i1ient in 2%'iti1a' :i''@.
Se1%nd'5, 0a1ks%n states, .Quasi-states are creatures o! changes in the rules o! mem"ership and
modes o! operation o! international society which were deli"erately made to replace the institutions
o! #uropean overseas colonialism@(2.2(). +n a nuts,e''! t,e e8isten1e %3 su1, states ,as %n'5 been
enab'ed t,r%ug, a 1,ange in attitude t%:ards 1%'%nia'ism and t,e ne:'5 risen idea' %3 se'3#
determinati%n in internati%na' s%1iet5. ?,i'e 0a1ks%n seeks t% 2r%ve t,is t,esis b5 menti%ning t,e
assistan1e and su22%rt given t% :eak states b5 t,e U and str%nger states (2.2)), ,e 3ai's t% mark
t,is 1,ange as essentia''5 n%rmative as it is. +n genera', t,e given te8t is n%t e8a1t'5 a 1ase 3%r t,e
1urrent situati%n %r t,e e8isten1e %3 t,ese s%vereign states as a resu't %3 de1%'%niAati%n. A 2,rase
'ike .aut,enti1 3reed%m@ 1%u'd ,ave been a1,ieved b5 2%st2%ning t,e 2r%1ess %3 de1%'%niAati%n
(2.2)) s,%:s t,at 0a1ks%n d%es n%t 2ut an em2,asis %n t,e idea' %3 ;ui1k inde2enden1e 3%r
territ%ries and 2e%2'es t,at :ere e82'%ited b5 1%'%nia' 2%:ers 3%r de1ades, s%metimes 1enturies.
"urt,erm%re it is at 'east ;uesti%nab'e t,at t,e internati%na' 1%mmunit5 1%m2'ete'5 e8em2ts ;uasi#
states 3r%m t,e ra1e 3%r 2%:er. +t is =usti3ied t% sa5 t,at s%me ;uasi#states are 1%m2eting 3%r 2%:er
:it, neig,b%ring 1%untries, 3%r e8am2'e :it,in t,e &ag,reb. ?,i'e %ne mig,t argue t,at t,is
1%m2etiti%n is %n'5 regi%na', t,e 1%m2etit%rs are members %3 t,e internati%na' 1%mmunit5.
A 'ast 2%int %3 1riti1ism must be ab%ut t,e 1ertain vagueness 0a1ks%n e8,ibits :,i'e e82'aining t,e
1%mm%n 3eatures %3 ;uasi#states. ?,i'e re3erring t% t,e 1%mm%n ,ist%r5 %3 a 1%'%nia' 2ast
t,r%ug,%ut t,e te8t, 0a1ks%n a's% s2eaks %3 a %rt,#S%ut, ga2 based %n 'iving standards, :,i1,
:%u'd ru'e %ut 3%rmer 1%'%nies 'ike S%ut, F%rea and H%ng F%ng b5 ge%gra2,i1 and e1%n%mi1
measures. ?,i'e ,e d%es n%t %ver'%%k :e'' deve'%2ed 1%'%nies 'ike t,ese (2.20), ,e %n'5 menti%ns
t,em as e81e2ti%ns t% t,e ru'e. +nteresting'5 0a1ks%n d%es n%t assign t,e term ;uasi#state %r state t%
t,ese 1%untries , :,i1, makes it im2%ssib'e t% determine :,et,er t,e 1%'%nia' 2ast %r t,e 1urrent
1%nditi%n :eig,s ,eavier 3%r ,im. +t :%u'd be ,e'23u' t% see ,im take a 1'%ser '%%k at t,ese states
and e82'ain :,5 and at :,at t,e5 ,ave su11eeded :,i'e %t,ers ,ave 3ai'ed.
E%n1'uding, + :%u'd 2%int %ut t,at t,e distin1ti%n bet:een states and ;uasi#states is a 1%m2e''ing
and '%gi1a' %ne. >ven 24 5ears a3ter its 2ub'i1ati%n a '%t %3 %bservati%ns and 1ateg%riAati%ns
menti%ned in t,e te8t %n ,and ,ave 2r%ved t% be true. <,ere is n% d%ubt t,at 3%rmer 1%'%nies
genera''5 su33er 3r%m :%rse 'iving standards t,an t,e 1%untries t,at ru'ed t,em. $ike:ise it is
1%rre1t t,at t,ere are nati%ns t,at sustain t,eir state,%%d m%re =uridi1a''5 t,an em2iri1a''5.
<,e s,i3t in attitude %3 str%nger states t%:ards :eaker states (3r%m 1%n;uest and e82'%itati%n t%
deve'%2ment assistan1e and 3%reign aid) is a remaining 3a1t%r in t%da5s internati%na' s%1iet5 as :e''.
>ven t%da5, t,e internati%na' genera' 2ub'i1 and m%re s2e1i3i1a''5, t,e U, 2r%m%te t,e se'3
determinati%n %3 3%rmer 1%'%nies, des2ite t,eir d%mesti1 strugg'es. <,ere3%re it is 3air t% sa5 t,at
0a1ks%n4s te8t :as, is and 2r%bab'5 :i'' be re'evant in t,e 3uture. H%:ever t,e 'a1k %3 n%rmative
adv%1a15 %3 de1%'%niAati%n, and se'3#determinati%n s,%u'd n%t be %ver'%%ked.