Sovereignty Flashcards
Define sovereignty
The full right and power of a governing body over itself without interference from outside bodies
Key principles of the treaty of Westphalia (4)
1) Sovereignty: States gained full control over their territories and domestic affairs, free from external interference.
2) Non-Intervention: External powers were prohibited from interfering in the internal matters of sovereign states, fostering stability and respecting autonomy.
3) Equality: All states, regardless of size or power, were considered equal under international law, promoting diplomatic negotiation as the primary means of resolving conflicts.
4) Legal Framework: The Peace contributed to the development of international law, establishing norms such as diplomatic immunity and formal treaty processes.
In what ways have the principles of Westphalian sovereignty been breached in contemporary global politics. (4)
1) War – U.S.-led Invasion of Iraq (2003):
In 2003, the United States, along with other countries supporting them, invaded Iraq. They claimed this was to stop Iraq from using dangerous weapons, but no clear evidence of these weapons was found. This military action, conducted without explicit UN Security Council approval, violated Iraq’s sovereignty by removing Saddam Hussein’s regime and occupying the country, disrupting its ability to self-govern.
2) Social Media – Russian Interference in U.S. Elections (2016):
During the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Russia was accused of using social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to spread disinformation and create division among voters. These campaigns, orchestrated by groups such as the Internet Research Agency, directly undermined the sovereignty of the United States by attempting to manipulate its democratic process.
3) Economic Influence – China’s Belt and Road Initiative (2017):
In December 2017, Sri Lanka formally handed over control of Hambantota Port to China on a 99-year lease after being unable to repay debts tied to the Belt and Road Initiative. This transfer of strategic infrastructure reduced Sri Lanka’s external sovereignty by giving China significant influence over its economic and geopolitical decisions.
4) Humanitarian Intervention – NATO in Kosovo (1999):
From March to June 1999, NATO conducted airstrikes against Serbia without UN Security Council authorization, citing the need to stop ethnic cleansing in Kosovo. This intervention breached Serbia’s sovereignty, as the military actions were carried out without its consent, undermining the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs.
What is colonialism? (2)
1) It is defined asthe domination and control of people or territories by an external state or nation.
2) Directly contradicting the idea of non-intervention and state autonomy.
Breach of Sovereignty Through Colonialism
1) After 1648, the principle of state sovereignty was frequently violated, with colonialism serving as a clear example.
Colonialism can be broadly categorized into two forms:
1) Colony of settlement - Resettlement of people from the colonial power to the colony (sometimes referred to as a settlement)
Example - Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand
2) Colony of rule - Control over the economic and political systems of an existing society
Example - India, Indonesia, Brazil, Uganda
.
How has sovereignty has been applied in the context of colonialism (with reference to Western European powers) (2)
1) Sovereignty is essentially a Western idea that was imposed on other societies around the world. Western powers promoted sovereignty within their own territories, they imposed their rule and control on other nations, often ignoring the sovereignty of the people in colonized regions.
2) The Western European colonial powers were guilty of hypocrisy in their claim to adhere to Westphalian notions of sovereignty while colonizing other non-western states. They claimed to support the idea of sovereignty in Europe, where each state had the right to govern itself without external interference. However, while promoting this idea within Europe, they also colonized non-Western states, stripping those societies of their sovereignty by imposing control over them.
Montevideo definition of a state (4)
1) A permanent population: This means there must be people who permanently reside within the territory of the state.
2) A defined territory: The state must have clear and recognized boundaries.
3) Government: There must be a political organization that exercises control and authority over the permanent population and defined territory.
4) Capacity to enter into relations with other states: The state must have the ability to engage in diplomatic and foreign relations with other states.
Post - Colonialism Theory
Post colonialism is a political viewpoint. It makes the claim that although the era of colonialism and European imperialism appears to be over, we are still experiencing its negative consequences, which continue to impact almost all aspects of daily life.
Traditional Sovereignty
According to Boutros Boutros-Ghali’s, traditional sovereignty refers to the absolute and exclusive control that a state holds over its internal and external affairs, without interference from any external entities.
Why is traditional sovereignty considered a myth?
1)Boutros-Ghali’s statement that “the time of absolute and exclusive sovereignty, however, has passed” suggests that this idea is now increasingly considered a myth.
2) Despite the theoretical basis of traditional sovereignty, in reality, states can no longer operate in complete isolation due to various global dynamics.
3) Issues such as globalization, international trade, and shared environmental concerns mean that countries are often interconnected, and decisions made within one country can have far-reaching effects on others.
Potential issues with each feature that can be seen in contemporary global politics (4+examples)
- The state has supreme political authority:
Issue: Globalization and International Law
The rise of IGOs and legal frameworks has weakened the state’s absolute authority, as countries are often bound by international agreements or pressured by entities like the European Union or the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Example: The European Union (EU) has sovereignty-sharing arrangements, where member states’ laws must align with EU regulations, reducing their supreme political authority in certain areas (e.g., trade, competition, and environmental policies).
- The state has a monopoly on the use of force within its borders:
Issue: External Military Interventions
The traditional monopoly on force has been challenged by foreign military interventions, particularly when states face internal conflicts or when the international community justifies military action under humanitarian grounds.
Example: NATO’s intervention in Libya in 2011, without the direct approval of the UN Security Council, was a breach of Libya’s sovereignty and challenged the idea that the state has an exclusive right to use force within its borders.
- The state has the final say on who can or cannot cross its borders:
Issue: Humanitarian Crises and Refugee Movements
The principle of control over borders has been challenged by the rights of refugees and asylum seekers during humanitarian crises, where international conventions sometimes call for states to allow refugees to cross borders.
Example: The European Refugee Crisis (2015) saw countries like Germany and Hungary clash over border control policies, with Germany taking in large numbers of refugees while Hungary built fences to prevent them from crossing its borders, highlighting a tension between national sovereignty and international human rights obligations.
- The state chooses how it wants to interact with other states:
Issue: International Sanctions and Diplomacy
States often find their foreign policy choices constrained by external pressure, such as economic sanctions or diplomatic isolation, particularly when they act in ways that the international community deems unacceptable.
Example: The U.S. sanctions on Iran and the European Union’s sanctions on Russia demonstrate how external actors can influence a state’s ability to freely engage with other nations, undermining its sovereign right to dictate its own foreign policy.
- Other states must recognize and respect the independence of the state:
Issue: Territorial Disputes and Recognition
The principle of recognizing a state’s independence has been challenged by territorial disputes and non-recognition of certain states, often due to political considerations or power dynamics.
Example: The recognition of Palestine and Taiwan shows how the sovereignty of certain entities is not universally respected. Many countries, due to political alliances (e.g., Taiwan’s non-recognition by China), fail to recognize these territories as fully sovereign states, violating the principle of sovereign equality.
Popular sovereignty with example
Popular sovereignty is the idea that state sovereignty is derived from popular consent which delegates its power to the government.
Popular sovereignty means that the power to make decisions in a country comes from the people, not from a king or dictator. The idea is that the government gets its power because the people allow it.
Switzerland’s direct democracy. In Switzerland, citizens have the power to propose and vote on referendums that can directly influence government policies, laws, and decisions. This reflects the idea of popular sovereignty because the power to make decisions ultimately comes from the people, not from a centralized government or leader. The Swiss people regularly use this system to ensure that their government is accountable to them, and decisions are made by popular consent.
Pooled Sovereignty + example
A state gives up some influence in internal or external affairs with the hope of achieving greater benefits.
Example - NATO. Member states agree to share military resources and defense responsibilities, committing to mutual defense in the event of an attack on one member. For instance, if a NATO member is attacked, all other members are obligated to come to its defense under Article 5 of the NATO treaty. This pooling of military power provides individual states with greater security than they would have on their own.
Example of collectivism and power - with
Collectivism in IR refers to the idea that states work together for mutual benefit, sharing responsibilities, resources, and security.
What are some of the challenges of pooled sovereignty? (4)
1) National Sovereignty: States are reluctant to fully give up control over certain aspects of their national affairs. Pooled sovereignty requires states to surrender some degree of independance, especially in areas like military defense, trade policies, or decision-making.
This can create tension as countries may prioritize their national interests over collective goals, limiting the effectiveness of cooperation.
EX - The U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in 2017 is an example of reluctance to give up control over national affairs. The U.S. prioritized its economic interests and sovereignty, rejecting international climate policies it felt would burden its economy.
2) Government Inconsistency - Pooled sov maybe difficult, as national governments may change, leading to different priorities and a lack of consistency in the commitment to international agreements.
For example, leadership changes can result in a country deciding to withdraw from or reduce participation in security alliances like NATO or the European Union, as seen with the UK’s exit from the EU (Brexit). Such shifts can undermine the strength of pooled sovereignty.
3) Coordination and Cooperation: The more states involved in a pooled sovereignty arrangement, the harder it becomes to coordinate and cooperate effectively. Diverse political systems, cultural differences, and competing national interests can lead to disagreements and slow decision-making.
Example - EU’s response to the 2015 refugee crisis. Memberds like Hungary and Poland opposed mandatory refugee quotas proposed by the EU, citing national sovereignty and differing political priorities. This lack of consensus delayed collective action, undermining the EU’s ability to effectively address the crisis and provide uniform assistance to refugees.
4) Dominance and Unequal Power Dynamics: In pooled sovereignty arrangements, wealthier nations often dominate decision-making processes due to their greater financial contributions, advanced infrastructure, and political influence. This creates an imbalance, where less wealthy states have less say in setting priorities or shaping policies.
Example - During the Eurozone debt crisis, Germany and France, as wealthier EU states, pushed for austerity measures, which Greece had to accept in exchange for bailout funds. This created tension, as smaller countries felt their sovereignty was undermined by the decisions of more powerful states, leading to resentment and a breakdown in trust within the EU.
Responsible sovereignty
Responsible sovereignty is the notion that a state is responsible for the well-being of its citizens, and it is incapable of ensuring it or is actively endangering it, it should be corrected by the international community, if necessary, with force.
UN intervention in Libya (2011):
1) The UN Security Council authorized military intervention to protect civilians from the Gaddafi regime’s violent crackdown.
2) This was a case where the international community acted to prevent crimes against humanity, including genocide and war crimes, in line with the “Responsibility to Protect” (R2P) doctrine.
3) The Libyan intervention demonstrated that while states retain sovereignty, they also have a responsibility to protect their populations, and the international community can intervene when that responsibility is not upheld.
