Sovereignty

Definition

Sovereignty is the principle of supreme authority within a territory, where a state has the power to govern itself without external interference. This concept is foundational in international relations, influencing the behavior of states and their interactions within global governance frameworks.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Sovereignty has evolved from the absolute power held by monarchs to include concepts like shared or conditional sovereignty among states in international organizations.
2. The Westphalian model established the modern understanding of sovereignty after the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, marking the end of religious wars in Europe and recognizing state sovereignty.
3. Sovereignty can be challenged by globalization, where economic and political interconnectedness reduces the autonomy of individual states.
4. In international law, sovereignty implies not just authority but also responsibility, especially concerning human rights and humanitarian intervention.
5. The Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine introduces debates on how sovereignty can be overridden in cases of severe human rights violations, posing dilemmas for global governance.

Review Questions

• How does the principle of sovereignty influence the behavior of key actors in international relations?
  • Sovereignty serves as a guiding principle for how states interact with one another, emphasizing their right to govern without external interference. Key actors, such as nation-states, act based on their sovereignty to protect their territorial integrity and political independence. This leads to dynamics where states often prioritize national interests, which can sometimes conflict with collaborative efforts in international organizations aimed at addressing global issues.
• Discuss how sovereignty is defined and understood within international organizations and its implications for global governance.
  • Sovereignty is recognized within international organizations as a foundational principle that underpins state membership and cooperation. While these organizations seek to foster collaboration among states, they must navigate the complexities of respecting sovereign rights while addressing collective challenges. This balance can create tensions when actions taken for global governance, such as sanctions or interventions, infringe on a state's perceived sovereignty.
• Evaluate the implications of humanitarian intervention on state sovereignty in the context of modern global governance.
  • Humanitarian intervention raises critical questions about the limits of state sovereignty when severe human rights abuses occur. The concept of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) suggests that the international community has an obligation to intervene if a state fails to protect its citizens from atrocities. This introduces a complex debate about whether it is justified to override a state's sovereignty for humanitarian reasons, and how this can reshape perceptions of state authority and legitimacy within global governance frameworks.

Related terms

Territorial Integrity: The principle that a state's borders are inviolable and should not be violated by other states, reinforcing the idea of sovereignty.

Non-Intervention: The policy of not intervening in the internal affairs of sovereign states, a principle that is crucial in maintaining state sovereignty.

Nationalism: A political ideology that emphasizes the interests and culture of a particular nation, often linked to the assertion of sovereignty and self-determination.