Human rights compliance in de facto states: The regime type of the patron state and the relationship of asymmetric dependency

This study examines the human rights compliance of de facto states with limited international recognition. It focuses on how their human rights policies are shaped by the regime type of the patron state and the nature of asymmetric dependence between them. Using a comparative case study and process tracing, the research analyzes Kosovo and Abkhazia. The findings show that liberal-democratic patron states tend to enhance human rights compliance, whereas authoritarian ones tend to undermine it. Key Words: De facto States, Human Rights, Asymmetric Dependency