Abstract
This study seeks to improve our understanding of the causes leading to failure of de facto states. In contrast to the voluminous body of literature on sovereign state failure, the process of de facto state failure remains under-researched.
Drawing upon the existing research on state failure and de facto statehood, we narrow down our theoretical explanations to a set of causes related to civil conflict, tribalism, and economic crisis. More specifically, we aim to examine the effects of tribalism, warlordism, ideological fractionalization, and economic deficiencies on the collapse and failure of de facto entities.
We employ a case study of the interwar Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (1996-1999) to demonstrate how the above-detailed factors contributed toward the collapse of a de facto state.