By: Atira Naik Introduction Somaliland is a small nation-state internationally recognized as part of Somalia, bordering Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somaliland's semi-autonomous Puntland region. Somaliland, today, has all the workings of an independent nation. It has a democratically elected government, a working constitution, a currency and a capital, Hargeisa, comprising roughly 1.5 million residents. Despite declaring independence in 1991, the country have yet to gain international recognition as an independent state, hence its inclusion as an 'unrecognized country.' The territory was a British ..read more

The Case for an Independent Kurdistan By: ,Atira Naik There are few things that can leave a person feeling as destitute as being homeless; and if that is a way of life, that destitution eventually leads to an identity conflict, or worse, a lacking sense of identity. Alternatively, the frustration that comes with being unable to keep in touch with one’s roots can induce a sense of hopelessness that becomes a state of mind. The desperation to keep that part alive may well lead to drastic actions undertaken that then disrupt society around such individuals. This is the case in Kurdistan right now ..read more

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Unrecognized Countries By: Camillah Agak K. According to United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Foreign direct investment (FDI) is defined as an investment reflecting a lasting interest and control by a foreign direct investor, resident in one economy, in an enterprise resident in another economy (foreign affiliate). FDI is a key component for the less developed and developing countries to encourage foreign investors within their territories. It is a form of cross-border investment with the objective of fostering a lasting interest that ..read more

By: The PH Team Transnistria Transnistria is an unrecognized country, internationally recognized as part of Moldova. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Transnistria declared independence from the newly independent Republic of Moldova. Tiraspol Tiraspol is the capital of the unrecognized country of Transnistria. Once an industrial Soviet city, home to the finest Soviet cognac (KVINT), the city is now the capital of a country that doesn't exist. The modern city of Tiraspol is considered by many, including in Transnistria to be founded by Russian generalissimo Alexander Suvorov in 1792 ..read more

By: The PH Team Somaliland Somaliland is an unrecognized country, internationally recognized as part of Somalia. In 1960, British Somaliland gained independence and united as scheduled days later with the Italian Somaliland to form the Somali Republic (Somalia) on July 1st. The country declared independence in 1991, during the Somali Civil War and has remained independent ever since. Unlike neighbouring Somalia, Somaliland has been able to secure the country and its borders from international and domestic threats which plague the lives of everyday citizens in the internationally recognized So ..read more

By: The PH Team Turkmenistan Turkmenistan, once part of the Soviet Union, is a secretive State in Central Asia compared by many to North Korea. The country, often referred to as 'Central Asia's Hermit Kingdom,' is known for its secretive nature, permanent neutrality, authoritarian style of governance and its incredible history along the ancient Silk Road. Today, the country is one of the least-visited in the world and is a hidden-gem for all types of travellers looking for an authentic and unique experience. Ashgabat Ashgabat, formerly named Poltoratsk between 1919 and 1927, is the capital an ..read more

By: The PH Team Gagauzia Gagauzia, once an unrecognized country, is an autonomous region within the Republic of Moldova and home to the Gagauz people, who make of the majority of the population in Gagauzia. The region declared independence after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, however later negotiated to rejoin Moldova, of which the region was internationally recognized as part of. Gagauzians are an ethnic Turkic group who largely inhabit the region of Gagauzia and other surrounding areas of the former Soviet Union. Although they are an ethnic Turkic group, they are in fact a majority Ch ..read more

By: The PH Team Abkhazia Abkhazia is an unrecognized country in the Caucasus region, internationally recognized as part of Georgia. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the region of Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia on the grounds that the region's historical ethnic majority deserved its own State. Although only a small strip of land, the unrecognized country is home to immense and important history of the region. Anacopia Fortress Anacopia Fortress is an ancient military citadel in New Athos, Abkhazia. It is the most complete surviving building of ancient Anacopia, the forme ..read more

By: The PH Team Chechnya Chechnya , officially the Chechen Republic is a federal subject of Russia located in the North Caucasus Region. The republic borders other Russian Republic of; Ingushetia, North Ossetia, Stavropol Krai and Dagestan and the post-Soviet country of Georgia. Chechnya came into the international spotlight in the 1990s and early 2000s because of two Russian invasions which sparked the first and second Chechen Wars. However, since 2009, the region has received large amounts of federal funding and infrastructure upgrades. Today, Chechnya is quite safe and stable and its capit ..read more

By: The PH Team Iraqi Kurdistan Iraqi Kurdistan is an autonomous region in northern Iraq. Although the region has tried to gain full independence as recently as 2017, all attempts have thus far remained unsuccessful. Known colloquially as 'the other Iraq,' the region is known for its security and stability in relation to the rest of Iraq and surrounding regions. The regional military, the Peshmerga, as well as its government, the Kurdish Regional Government, are responsible for the security and the day-to-day affairs of the region. As such, they have been able to provide its inhabitants and t ..read more