A seminar titled “Geopolitical Constructions of De Facto States: From Actor-centred Interactions to Role Conceptions” was held at Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU) in collaboration with the Cyprus Policy Center (CPC) and the Department of Political Science and International Relations. The opening remarks were delivered by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sözen, Chair of the Department of Political Science and International Relations and Director of EMU CPC, who introduced the guest speaker, Prof. Dr. Eiki Berg.
In his presentation, Prof. Dr. Berg examined how the geopolitical roles of de facto states are constructed within the framework of role theory. He emphasized that geopolitical roles are not shaped solely by geographical factors—such as territory, resources, and population—but also by actors’ perceptions and their mutual interactions. He noted that de facto states often emerge from secessionist conflicts and are positioned within a triangular interaction network involving the “parent state,” the “patron state,” and “third parties.”
During the seminar, the concepts of role conception, role prescription, and role performance were explained in a clear and accessible manner. It was highlighted that actors position themselves according to both their self-perceptions and the roles attributed to them by external actors. In this process, role coherence and counter-role dynamics were identified as key elements. Prof. Dr. Berg underlined that de facto states should not be viewed as passive entities, but rather as actors capable of strategic calculation and active role construction.
The seminar, which attracted significant interest, concluded with a Q&A session moderated by Prof. Dr. Ahmet Sözen, where participants discussed the status and geostrategic positions of de facto states within the international system.
