Sovereignty

Characteristics

Origins and Evolution

Territorial supremacy

Whoever has sovereignty has ultimate authority over the physical territory where it is claimed and enforced

Basis for political order

Monarchs were also known as sovereigns

Sovereignty implies that states cannot interfere in others affairs

International relations became s state of anarchy

Jean Bodin

Philosopher

Sought to stop the practice of lower feaudal lords claiming sovereignty of realms by charging tolls to cross their territories

Spread the power of the monarchy

Popular sovereignty

American and French revolution

Belief that people were the source of fundamental political legitimacy

People were sovereign and they relinquished sovereignty to the state to maintain order

Changing conceptions of sovereignty

Challenged by international efforts to limit the degree of control states have over citizens

UN Declaration of Human Rights

Convention on Genocide

Reasons why the nature of sovereignty is controversial

Connection between sovereignty and war

Justifies war to settle differences between states

Vital Interests

Conditions that states will not voluntarily compromise

Degree of control it gives states over citizens

Right to suppress individuals

Popular after outrage of Holocaust

Rejection of this represents popular sovereignty

Sovereignty has never been as absolute as it has been in theory

Recognized territory and population

Recognized jurisdiction and legitimate authority over the territory and its inhabitants

Autonomy from external control

Recognition by other states

Antarctica is controversial

Claimant has basis for position bigger than any other body

Independence of whoever claims sovereignty from outside forces