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