statehood

Statehood refers to the status of a political entity as a sovereign state within the international system. The criterion most associated with statehood comes from the Montevideo Convention (1933): a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. In practice, sovereignty and independence are central, and while statehood commonly involves recognition by other states, it is not merely an internal fact.

Attainment of statehood can occur through decolonization, dissolution or merger of existing states, or a declaration of independence. There are two principal theories about what makes a state: the declarative theory, which holds that statehood exists when the basic criteria are satisfied regardless of recognition; and the constitutive theory, which holds that statehood also depends on recognition by other states. In most cases, external recognition and, for membership in international bodies, such as the United Nations, some degree of diplomatic acknowledgment are influential.

Statehood is frequently contested in cases of disputed territories or entities that are unrecognized or only partially recognized. Examples include Taiwan, Kosovo, Palestine, Western Sahara, and Somaliland. Some regions function as de facto states without broad international recognition. Statehood confers rights, such as diplomatic representation and participation in treaties, and imposes obligations, including respect for territorial integrity, non-intervention, and compliance with international law.