This book investigates the evolving legal and political criteria governing the creation of new states and the legitimacy of secessionist movements in the international system. Authors Mikulas Fabry and James Ker-Lindsay utilize a historical framework to analyze how international norms regarding sovereignty have shifted from the era of the American Revolution through the post-colonial period and into the contemporary era. They argue that statehood is not merely a matter of internal control but is fundamentally defined by the recognition and institutional standards set by the existing international community.

Experts identify this work as a concise and accessible primer for students and practitioners of international relations. Readers frequently note the clarity of the historical synthesis, which effectively bridges the gap between complex legal theory and practical political application.