the state: national sovereignty

Question 1

what is the idea of sovereignty?

Answer 1

absolute power over a state’s citizens (It has unlimited power in its own territory (internal sovereignty) and on the international stage (external sovereignty).

Question 2

what does internal sovereignty allow?

Answer 2

power of a body within the state to make decisions binding on individuals in the territory to maintain order

Question 3

what does philosopher max weber describe internal sovereignty as?

Answer 3

a monopoly over the use of legitimate violence within the state

Question 4

what are the three main points about external sovereignty?

Answer 4

no legal or political authority above the state

right of autonomy to make decisions within the territory free from external interference

no state or legal body has the right to intervene in the sovereign affairs

Question 5

what is autonomy?

Answer 5

when a group of persons or a territory are self-governing (not under the control of a higher level of government)

Question 6

what are some threats to a nations sovereignty?

Answer 6

1) globalisation and growing levels of interdependence. borders becoming porous and declining sovereignty

2) increasing role of TNCs and NGOs. work outside the traditional limits of sovereignty

3) the growing role of international institutions. the move from intergovernmentalism and supranationalism and regionalism

4) growing tensions between national sovereignty and human rights leading to the idea that states have the right to intervene in the other states to protect rights