This article provides an attempt to draft a conceptual approach to the problem of the interrelation of domestic and external factors in the processes of the state-building with the special focus on unrecognized and self-proclaimed states. Various methodological and theoretical aspects of external recognition and domestic legitimization of the self-proclaimed new states which are claiming sovereignty are analyzed. An analytical distinction of different levels and qualities of stateness is introduced in the article, in particular building upon some findings of the ‘Political Atlas of the Modern World’ project. A strong correlation between the levels of stateness and the potential of international influence is used as one of the possible criteria for developing typologies of modern states.