Ontological Security of the Post-Soviet de Facto States

Abstract

The contribution introduces the concept of ontological security to the study of de Facto states and forwards the claim that the field would greatly benefit from putting more emphasis on identity of these entities by drawing on a growing body of scholarship about state identity and ontological security. The starting premise is that, while non-recognition illegalizes the de Facto states and threatens their physical security, non-engagement presents no physical threat, but de-legitimizes the de Facto states and threatens their ontological security. The main argument developed on this basis is that de Facto states act to fulfil their self-identity needs and preserve their ontological security, sometimes going as far as compromising their physical security, even their existence. The author goes on to provide arguments for the relevance of ontological security perspective for the study of de Facto states—and in particular–the post-Soviet de Facto states). In the second part of the contribution state identity and ontological security in the Caucasus are discussed in order to shed light on the relations between honour, identity, and foreign policy. Finally, the ontological security perspective is applied to analyse the case of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (CRI) between 1996 and 1999, its eventual defeat and re-incorporation into its parent state—the Russian Federation.