ABSTRACT
The collapse of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics implied the breakdown of the bipolar system, the end of Cold War rivalry, and the emergence of new threats to both the regional and global security systems. Separatist tendencies are a driver of disintegration of the affected states as they generate the emergence of self-proclaimed geopolitical entities, notable for their own agendas and interests. The researcher's conscious and consistent use of terms allows us to understand their perception of the studied phenomenon, thus the choice of research methods and techniques in the course of the research process. The de facto states have been created by declaring secession from the mother states. The oligarchization of political structures eroded the quality of governance and the delivery of social needs at an adequate level. Strong public support for state authorities determines the internal stability of such entities, while military potential is vital for sustaining external autonomy and the entity's survival.
