In this thesis I examine the issue of Tibet’s international status: despite enduring Western sympathy and global moral support, Tibet remains unrecognised as a sovereign state, with its political aspirations largely unrealised. This research explores how Western discourses of sympathy – rooted in narratives of nonviolence, victimhood, and cultural preservation – construct a form of ‘symbolic’ legitimacy that sustains Tibet’s visibility but fails to generate concrete diplomatic or legal recognition in the international system. I will draw on a constructivist theoretical framework and employ critical discourse analysis. In this thesis I will investigate how these narratives circulate through political rhetoric, media, and NGO campaigns. The findings suggest that symbolic legitimacy operates as both an empowering and limiting force – it keeps the idea of Tibetan identity alive whilst ultimately reinforcing the geopolitical status quo dominated by China. By showing how legitimacy is socially constructed and performatively sustained instead of being materially realised, this thesis contributes to wider discussions in International Relations about recognition, sovereignty, and the politics of discourse.It also raised critical questions about the efficacy of moral advocacy and the constraints of normative unity in an international system which is governed by strategic interests.