Countering secession

An act of unilateral secession is one of the most serious challenges a state can face. It represents a fundamental challenge to the very geographical, political, and often economic and cultural fabric of a country. But how do states counter an attempt by a part of its territory to break away? Drawing primarily on the cases of Cyprus and Kosovo, the two examples, where counter-secession strategies and tactics have been most systematically developed and applied, this chapter explores the four main ways in which states facing acts of unilateral secession can respond. These include continuing to make a formal claim to the territory; preventing bilateral recognition by other states and membership of international organisations; limiting unofficial contacts with breakaway territories, which can provide informal legitimisation; and using legal and judicial routes to undermine the claim to independent statehood.