Soft recognition

International affairs are usually considered to be the preserve of the state. Central state authorities generally maintain control over core aspects including foreign policy in multilateral organisations. However, in this globalised and interconnected world lines between domestic and international politics are increasingly blurred. The big challenges of our time such as climate change, migration, or pandemics do not respect borders. They inevitably permeate and impact domestic agendas of individual states and affect everyone, including groups that enjoy a degree of self-governance within the state. This report on ‘soft recognition’ of these groups sets out some of the mechanisms enabling their participation in intergovernmental organisations and diplomatic relations globally and regionally. It highlights the benefits – including conflict resolution potential – of such engagement for the populations they represent, as well as for states and the multilateral organisations concerned.