Sovereignty

Sociology | Mercantile Law | International Law | International Relations

Sovereignty is a modern day aspect of the International Relations. It is actually linked with the aboriginal concept of the nation – state system. Before the origin of the nation state system, the idea of sovereignty was vague. Later it evolved gradually to assume the contemporary manifestation.

Defining Sovereignty
Sovereignty is defined in terms of ‘unrestricted and unlimited authority of a state within its territory and on its population’. In another meaning of sovereignty, it is taken as the supremacy of state. This supremacy is meant to control and command everything inferior to it.

Sovereignty as Element of State
Modern nation state has four essential elements as defined in the ‘Montevideo Convention on Duties and Rights of States’;

  • Population
  • Territory
  • Government
  • Sovereignty

Sovereignty as an element of state is the most important one in abstract sense. Without sovereignty the idea of population and territory can be perceived but the idea of government control on both these things remains impossible. So, sovereignty is actually the name of that control as well which government being the working agency of state exercise over its people.

Various Dimensions of Sovereignty
Sovereignty is understood in different dimensions or types. Some are explained below;

A. Domestic Sovereignty
Domestic sovereignty means that the state is sovereign to rule over and decide for all the internal matters within its territory or related to its population.

B. Interdependence Sovereignty
Interdependence sovereignty means that state shall have control the international boundaries it shares with the neighboring states. No one is permitted to cross the borders of the state without due permission.

C. International Legal Sovereignty
This sovereignty is linked to the recognition of other sovereign states which have fulfilled the criteria of being the nation states.

Exclusivity and Absoluteness in Sovereignty
Exclusiveness and Absoluteness are two important features of sovereignty. Exclusivity means that the state is sovereign excluding all other agents that may tend to exercise control. In simple terms it excludes these agents from sharing state’s sovereignty.

Absoluteness of sovereignty of state means that the supremacy and authority of state is absolute and final. It will govern not only all the geographical parts of the country but also decide for the people. This feature makes the modern nation state as central institute of power.

Internal & External Sovereignty
Internal sovereignty deals with the internal affairs of a state. This idea is most of the time also linked with the concept of legitimacy of government. The way in which a government is elected to exercise internal sovereignty is an important aspect.

External sovereignty is the name of maintaining relations of a sovereign power with the other states of the world. It is not the supremacy of one state over another but the way in which relations between states are to be maintained on equal footing.

Conclusion
Sovereignty is an abstract element of state which is also the most important one. Sovereignty is the actual thing which works as the soul of modern nation state.