Abiding Sovereignty - Study Notes

Abiding Sovereignty

Citation Details

  • Author: Stephen D. Krasner

  • Source: International Political Science Review / Revue internationale de science politique, Jul., 2001, Vol. 22, No. 3, pp. 229-251

  • Publisher: Sage Publications, Ltd.

  • Stable URL: JSTOR Article

Abstract

  • The article posits that, despite the centuries of rules surrounding sovereignty—like non-intervention and exclusion of external authority—absolute state control has never been guaranteed.

  • States have always been affected by their external environments.

  • Globalization and the presence of international norms are not new. However, the growth of transnational NGOs and the prominence of international organizations are unique developments that challenge state control.

  • Globalization can lead to a crisis of authority which can prompt new structures of authority, but this process is complex.

  • Sovereignty has the resilience to coexist with new institutional arrangements rather than being outright replaced.

Keywords

  • Globalization

  • Sovereignty

  • State system

Introduction

  • Core Concept: The defining characteristic of international systems is anarchy, characterized by the absence of a legitimate hierarchical authority.

  • Anarchy allows for variation in rules and institutions; thus, anarchy is expressed in both systems (lack of hierarchy) and societies (shared rules).

  • Historical Context:

    • International systems have existed since ancient times, varying in rules and authority structures.

    • Examples include:

    • Sumer: Early city-states with shifting arbiters of power.

    • Islamic World: Divided between Dar-al-Islam (the House of Islam) and Dar-al-Harb (the House of War).

    • Traditional Chinese System: Hierarchical with China as the center, demanding tributary recognition from other states.

Sovereign States as the Building Blocks

  • Definition: Sovereign states are territorial units with judicial independence and autonomy, not formally subject to external authorities.

  • Characteristics: Sovereign states are strategically unitary, rational, and autonomous actors in international relations, as posited by rationalist international relations theories (realism and liberal institutionalism).

  • Challenges to Sovereignty: Observers argue that globalization and human rights norms are pressuring states, potentially leading to their decline. Arjun Appadurai’s perspective highlights concerns about the nation-state's viability due to internal and external crises such as:

    • Border wars

    • Culture wars

    • Inflation

    • Immigration

    • Capital flight

The Resilience of Sovereignty

  • Claims regarding the decline of sovereignty often overlook historical precedent and the evolving nature of international norms and state functions.

  • The argument posits that sovereignty is a weak evolutionary stable strategy which can coexist with alternative institutional structures rather than be replaced.

Definitions of Sovereignty

Sovereignty can be dissected into four distinct categories:

  1. Interdependence Sovereignty:

    • Refers to the capacity of states to control movements across their borders.

    • Modern globalization challenges this form as it erodes the ability of states to regulate cross-border flows of goods, services, and people.

  2. Domestic Sovereignty:

    • Concerns authority structures within states and their effectiveness in regulating behavior.

    • Historical figures like Bodin and Hobbes advocated for centralized authority in the context of domestic stability, yet recognized the variation in authority structures.

  3. Westphalian (Vattel) Sovereignty:

    • Involves the exclusion of external authority sources within a state’s boundaries, established primarily through the Peace of Westphalia (1648).

    • It established non-intervention principles and recognized sovereign equality, although the principle of religious tolerance was the core issue settled.

  4. International Legal Sovereignty:

    • Defined through mutual recognition among states and the capacity for legal agreements.

    • Consistent with standards such as diplomatic immunity and the act of state doctrine, ensuring that state actions remain beyond the jurisdiction of foreign courts.

Historical Context and Transformation

  • The evolution of state systems has coincided with substantial socio-economic changes worldwide. Significant events in the 19th and 20th centuries include:

    • Industrial revolution changes significantly impacted national economies.

    • Population statistics revealed that life expectancy rose, and average mortality rates fell dramatically.

    • Political transformations included the shift from colonized nations to decolonization and different governance ideologies altering international relations.

Key Challenges and Historical Precedents

  1. Globalization and Sovereignty:

    • Perspectives argue that globalization fundamentally challenges the ability of states to maintain sovereignty; for instance, capital mobility limits domestic economic policy capacities.

    • Historical examples illustrated challenges faced by nation-states maintaining their sovereignty over monetary policies (e.g., the Latin American crises).

  2. Human Rights Norms:

    • Global human rights standards challenge states’ authority to solely govern their internal affairs, questioning the legitimacy of state laws that violate these rights.

    • Discussions on contemporary intervention strategies by states regarding human rights violations provide insight into the evolving sovereignty discourse.

Contemporary Challenges and Future Implications

  1. Growth of Transnational NGOs (TNGOs):

    • The number of TNGOs has expanded dramatically, representing the potential for altering international norms and policies.

    • Networks formed by TNGOs can pressure states and international organizations to adopt more humanitarian standards in governance.

  2. International Organizations (IOs):

    • Organizations like the United Nations, IMF, and World Bank influence the sovereignty of states through conditionality and policy endorsement.

  3. Cyber Crime:

    • New technology leads to complex challenges as instances of cyber crime can threaten state control internationally, presenting unique governance issues in the limits of state authority.

Conclusion

  • Sovereignty has historically evolved and remains responsive to contemporary challenges while retaining its structural importance.

  • Final Assertion: Although threaten by globalization and changing norms, the rules surrounding state sovereignty have persistently withstood challenges, indicating its long-term resilience against transformations in the international system.

References

  • A full list of references cited throughout the document, ensuring thorough academic documentation for further investigation and study.

  • Cited works include major publications by figures such as Bodin, Hobbes, Wendt, and numerous academics who have contributed to the discourse on international relations.