DEON GELDENHUYS is Professor of Politics at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Specializing in International Relations, he has published several books, including Deviant Conduct in World Politics.

'Deon Geldenhuys has written a thorough and engaging treatment of this neglected aspect of world politics. Drawing from his wealth of knowledge in this area, Geldenhuys provides us with the requisite analytical tools and necessary historical depth to make sense of contested statehood, its impact and prospects.' - Chris Alden, London School of Economics, UK 'This book by Deon Geldenhuys, one of South Africa's best-known professors of international politics, examines a little-studied but important phenomenon in world politics: the 'wannabe state' those self-proclaimed entities that operate like states. This book provides an excellent examination of how and why contested states always have the potential to inflame international tensions.' - Kim Richard Nossal, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada

• Acknowledgements Introduction PART I: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES Confirmed versus Contested States Origins of Contested Statehood Alternative Destinations for Contested States PART II: CASE STUDIES The Eurasian Quartet Kosovo Somaliland Palestine Northern Cyprus Western Sahara Taiwan Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

DEON GELDENHUYS is Professor of Politics at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Specializing in International Relations, he has published several books, including Deviant Conduct in World Politics.

'Deon Geldenhuys has written a thorough and engaging treatment of this neglected aspect of world politics. Drawing from his wealth of knowledge in this area, Geldenhuys provides us with the requisite analytical tools and necessary historical depth to make sense of contested statehood, its impact and prospects.' - Chris Alden, London School of Economics, UK 'This book by Deon Geldenhuys, one of South Africa's best-known professors of international politics, examines a little-studied but important phenomenon in world politics: the 'wannabe state' those self-proclaimed entities that operate like states. This book provides an excellent examination of how and why contested states always have the potential to inflame international tensions.' - Kim Richard Nossal, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada

• Acknowledgements Introduction PART I: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES Confirmed versus Contested States Origins of Contested Statehood Alternative Destinations for Contested States PART II: CASE STUDIES The Eurasian Quartet Kosovo Somaliland Palestine Northern Cyprus Western Sahara Taiwan Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index