Defining State Sovereignty

2543 Words6 Pages

DEFINING STATE SOVEREIGNTY

State sovereignty is a broad concept…it is actually a two-in-one concept – state and sovereignty. In order to get a proper meaning of the concept I will therefore break it up and define each concept separately. I will start by defining state which in simple language means a community of people living together in a confined territory with an internally and externally recognized institution to protect them.

Sovereignty on its part can be defined as externally recognized right and freedom of a state (the unit of analysis of sovereignty) to conduct its affairs. Sovereignty provides the state with territorial integrity and enables it to enjoy recognition in the international politics.

If we now join the two concepts we can define state sovereignty as the freedom of state to make decisions within its defined geographical boundaries.

Internally, state sovereignty entails the distribution of power within the state while externally is about the state’s role within the international order and to whether or not it is able to operate as an independent and autonomous actor (Heywood 2004, pp90).

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CONCEPT

The significance of state sovereignty lies in its structure – it combines two very key concepts of IR – state and sovereignty – key actors in international relations. State sovereignty also involves obligation and authority - the state’s obligation to its citizenry (and same actors) as well as its power (authority) to make decision within its defined geographical boundaries.

Above all it is a fundamental part of contemporary politics and the international law, according to Westphalian concept. It is a concept which provides order, stability and predictability in International Relations (I...

... middle of paper ...

...r even when no state desires it. The classic example of that is the WWI.

Similarly, Iran’s nuclear programme which has stirred up heated debates and objections from super powers, the US in particular, is also both a matter of global security which liberalism is firm about and the realists’ concept of power balance.

Realists would on one hand support Iran’s move saying as a sovereign state it has the right to develop nuclear weapons and that the move would actually be healthy for the country. On the other they would see it as a costly and dangerous move that might end up triggering nuclear race (Dunne, Kurki, Smith 2010, 63).

CONCLUSION

As I said earlier in this essay, both theories have direct engagement with state sovereignty and whatever evolves around the concept can be explained (using the theories) from different perspectives.

=====================

Show More
Related

  • What Are The Articles Of Confederation Dbq

    590 Words  | 2 Pages

    document, such as a constitution. Sovereignty - an independent state has the power to govern its

    Read More

  • Kate Nash Views On Human Rights

    1038 Words  | 3 Pages

    The question is whether a state is looking inward or outward for a deepened understanding and heightened application of human rights. The nation-state, which is authorized to transform principles into both policy and practice, is the central resolution to the question. However, nation-states are faced with the challenge of balancing their sovereignty with the moral necessity to produce enforceable regulations that both establish and protect global citizenship. Although there is a national interest in building a reputable international rapport, it cannot be denied that sovereignty is always an ingrained issue. In return, nation states attempt to limit the extent to which it involves itself in the addressing of human rights violations abroad. For example, although countries delegate authority to international institutions, they do so conditionally and preserve the right to disengage. Furthermore, solidarity joins sovereignty as another hindrance to a post-national world comprised solely of human rights. For as long as human rights include positive rights, such as freedom from poverty, there is a requirement for thick solidarity, a form of global community commitment. Necessitating a sense of collective responsibility, thick solidarity is increasingly

    Read More

  • Federalism

    976 Words  | 2 Pages

    States’ rights may be defined as “the prerogative power of a state to exercise its inherent authority.”(Written by Fredrick D. Drake and Lynn R. Nelson-States Rights and American Federalism.)

    Read More

  • fog of war

    1454 Words  | 3 Pages

    According to realist view ordering principle of the international system is based on anarchy. There is no higher authority other than the states themselves to check and balance their actions. Consequently, nation-states are the main players in this system. In other words, sovereignty inheres in states, because there is not a higher ruling body in the international system. This is known as state centrism. Survival is an obligation continuing to be sovereign. On the other hand, sovereignty is the characteristic feature of states and its meaning is strongly tied to use of force. According to the most of the realist variants, states are “black boxes”; the determinative factor is states’ observable behavior, not their leaders’ characteristics, their decision making processes or their government systems.

    Read More

  • The Theory of Absolutism

    3286 Words  | 7 Pages

    Absolute monarchy or absolutism meant that the sovereign power or ultimate authority in the state rested in the hands of a king who claimed to rule by divine right. But what did sovereignty mean? Late sixteenth century political theorists believed that sovereign power consisted of the authority to make laws, tax, administer justice, control the state's administrative system, and determine foreign policy. These powers made a ruler sovereign.

    Read More

  • War: Nuclear Power

    1074 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Cold War was a time of great tension all over the world. From 1945 to 1989, the United States was the leader and nuclear power and was competing with the Soviet Union to create huge stockpiles of nuclear weapons. However, even though the Cold War ended, nuclear weapons are still a threat. Countries around the world strive to create nuclear power, and they do not promise to use it for peaceful purposes. Some examples of the struggles caused by nuclear weapons include the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and Iran’s recent nuclear weapon program. Surely, nuclear weapons have created conflict all over the world since the Cold War era.

    Read More

  • Analysis of Kant´s Essay on Perpetual Peace

    978 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...ty exclusive of external authorities. Second, in terms of domestic sovereignty, for fairly long time the political structures of states have been following the global trends, from monarchy, to republics, to democratic states most recently. From above we can see that both domestic sovereignty and Westphalian sovereignty are facing challenges all the time, which are not new, but characteristic from time to time. Since sovereignty is the core value of a state, it is reasonable to conclude that nation-state is challenged by globalization but its power is not undermined.

    Read More

  • Understanding International Relations

    1517 Words  | 4 Pages

    The liberalism and the realism approaches the international relations from very different perspective, and even though many of its views contrast from each other, the ...

    Read More

  • Communitarianism vs. Cosmopolitanism

    1136 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...t state autonomy cannot be restricted by anything but the community (state) itself. As one might assume, it follows from these differing standpoints that the way each theory view intervention, etc., will be in opposition. (Steve Smith, The Globalisation of World Politics: An Introduction to International Relations p. 173A)

    Read More

  • International System Essay

    926 Words  | 2 Pages

    The international system is an anarchical system which means that, unlike the states, there is no over ruling, governing body that enforces laws and regulations that all states must abide by. The International System in today’s society has become highly influential from a number of significant factors. Some of these factors that will be discussed are Power held by the state, major Wars that have been fought out in recent history and international organisations such as the U.N, NATO and the W.T.O. Each of these factors, have a great influence over the international system and as a result, the states abilities to “freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development”.

    Read More

  • Political Environment in International Marketing

    1398 Words  | 3 Pages

    THE SOVEREIGNITY OF NATIONS From the international law point of view, a sovereign state is independent and free from external control; enjoys full legal equality; governs its own territory; selects its own political, social, economic systems; and has the power to enter into agreements with other nations. It is extension of national laws beyond a country's borders that much of the conflict in international business arises. Nations can and do abridge specific aspects of their sovereign rights in order to coexist with other countries.... ... middle of paper ...

    Read More

  • Connection is Key: International Relations Intertwined

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    the borders of that country, which is the idea of sovereignty. Unfortunately, this “law” isn't always

    Read More

  • The Conflict Between the Ukraine and Russia

    1600 Words  | 4 Pages

    Globalization has effect the role of the state immensely; as the process of present’s challenges to state sovereignty and autonomy. In spite of borders becoming more ill-defined and fluid in as a result of the process of globalization (Weiss 2000, 2-3). The state will remain relevant and necessary because citizens need a place to cast their votes, taxes have to be paid to particular authorities, which can be held accountable for pub...

    Read More

  • What is State Formation and How Does It Occur?

    1329 Words  | 3 Pages

    To examine what state formation is and how it has occurred the logical route seems to assess from where they have evolved. The notion of the state is a relatively recent concept, for example in 1555 there existed only two national states, England and France. With otherwise the existence of disorganised and corrupt empires, federations and protectorates. It appears states have formed despite the many obstacles facing their development. Not only did the challenges of securing territory exist but ri...

    Read More

  • Globalization and State Sovereignty

    1784 Words  | 4 Pages

    Before we delve deeper into this topic, it is imperative to properly provide a definition of sovereignty and lay down some foundation on this topic. There are four different definitions of sovereignty – international legal sovereignty, Westphalia sovereignty, domestic sovereignty and interdependence sovereignty. International legal sovereignty deals with “the practices associated with mutual recognition, usually between territorial entities that have formal juridical independence” (Krasner 4). The main definition of sovereignty that this paper will use is the ...

    Read More

More about Defining State Sovereignty

Open Document