How States Get Recognised and Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

What does it actually mean to recognise a state - and who gets to decide? As global momentum builds behind the recognition of Palestinian statehood, and with the UN General Assembly meeting just weeks away, the question of when and how a people or place becomes a state has never felt more urgent. Today on Newstalk Daily, Ciara Doherty talks to Dr Gëzim Visoka, Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at Dublin City University. Gëzim brings not only academic expertise — he's authored over a dozen books on the subject — but also a deeply personal perspective. He’s from Kosovo, one of the world’s most diplomatically contested new states. Together, they unpack why countries like France and Canada are moving now to recognise Palestine, what this could mean for September’s General Assembly, and how recognition can be both a powerful diplomatic tool and a deeply symbolic act. The podcast explores whether statehood is about borders and governance, or legitimacy and moral force. Ciara and Gëzim look back at Kosovo, Croatia, and Taiwan — and forward to the potential ripple effects of recognising Palestine too early… or too late. This episode asks hard questions about power, politics, principle - and what it takes to be seen, accepted, and respected on the international stage. 🔗 Follow Dr Gëzim Visoka on X: @GezimVisoka