1. State and Globalisation: National and State Sovereignty

Question 1

What is the definition of ‘state sovereignty’?

Answer 1

the absence of any higher authority above the state in both domestic and external affairs
or
the ability to operate as autonomous and independent entities in world politics

Question 2

What stems from the principle of state sovereignty? What does the UN state?

Answer 2

states are seen as equal under international law in that they are all sovereign
UN Declaration of Principles of International Law reads:
“No states are group of…has right to intervene, directly or indirectly, for any reason whatever, in the internal or external affairs of any other state”

Question 3

What is internal sovereignty? Give an example of this.

Answer 3

location of supreme power/authority within a state

e.g. Parliament in the UK

Question 4

What does internal sovereignty mean in international relations?

Answer 4

within the territory of the state, no other institution (world institution or not) can overturn the decision of the legitimate government

Question 5

What is external sovereignty? What are other names for this?

Answer 5

refers to the capacity of the state to act independently and autonomously on the world stage

‘national sovereignty’ or ‘state sovereignty’

Question 6

What does external sovereignty mean in international relations?

Answer 6

all states are legally equal
the territorial integrity and political independence of s state is inviolable
every state can act independently with no external interference in its own matters.

Question 7

What UN principle reinforces the idea of sovereignty?

Answer 7

non-intervention

Question 8

Why are states seen to be sovereign?

Answer 8

there is no supreme world government or world police to discipline them

Question 9

Name 4 important features of external sovereignty.

Answer 9

1. legal equality of states
2. inviolability of state borders
3. the principle of non-interference
4. realists believe that states (and national sovereignty) remain key to global politics

Question 10

In reality, is state sovereignty still uneroded?

Answer 10

No, the modern state faces challenges that continuously erode their sovereignty

Question 11

Name 5 challenges to sovereignty.

Answer 11

1. dominant states
2, globalisation
3. the emergence of non-state actors
4. global and regional governance
5. human rights (humanitarian intervention) and international courts

Question 12

Why are dominant states a challenge to sovereignty?

Answer 12

• clear hierarchy of states

- stronger states can influence, dictate and even invade other countries (political and military sovereignty eroded)

Question 13

What are examples of dominant states challenging sovereignty?

Answer 13

• Soviet influence over Eastern Europe during Cold War
• Us intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya has violated the sovereignty of these countries
• Russia’s seizure of Crimea in 2014

Question 14

Why is globalisation a challenge to sovereignty?

Answer 14

• deeper levels of interdependence and interconnectedness
• state borders are increasingly porous
• a state is affected by actions that they cannot control in another part of the world

Question 15

What are examples of globalisation challenging sovereignty?

PPP Sovereignty and State pg. 36

Answer 15

the global economy: states economy is affected by events that are beyond the control of the government (world oil prices, financial markets fluctuations)

intergovernmental organisations: to enjoy economic growth states must rely on foreign bodies (IMF and their Structural Adjustment Program and “conditionalities”) (e.g. Indonesia forced to cut down welfare, food and public spending by IMf/WB)