Lecture 12: Sovereignty What is sovereignty? · Sovereignty is synonymous with the emergence of the modern state system · Sovereignty is ubiquitous in political speech (concept is everywhere) · Provides foundation for debating the legitimacy of bodies such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), the status of individuals from migrants to POWs Two distinctions ... · Substantive (fundamental) content (qualities/characteristics of sovereignty) · Normative framing (what kind of value is normally attributed to certain conceptions of sovereignty) 1033 Montevideo convention sets our certain prerequisites: · Territory · People · Government · RECOGNITION Sovereign states in IR · States as equal in IR and there is a principle of non-interference in domestic affairs · Sovereign statehood is seen as a means for liberation eg. For former colonies and a goal for ethnic groups that feel suppressed in other states. Types of sovereignty (Krasner) Domestic sovereignty-exercise domestic control Interdependence sovereignty- control trans-border movements Legal sovereignty- being acknowledged as a state Westphalian sovereignty- exclude external actors from domestic power (exclude foreign influence) Two main aspects: internal and external (interdependent) sovereignty Internal sovereignty Yes No External sovereignty Yes Ideal state Weak/failing state No state without recognition failed state
Internal sovereignty · The state as a sovereign actor within its borders · State monopoly of force · Effective control of territory and population · 'Limited statehood', failing states, failed states, quasi states (Jackson 1990) · States that have restricted or no internal sovereignty · Restricted sovereignty eg. Only in a limited territory (Pakistan) · No sovereignty: no power over territory and population (Mali 2012) External sovereignty · Treated equal to other states · Effective control of borders · Non-interference from external factors · If a state is not sovereign, it is not represented on an international level But all states are not equal in terms of their capacity so how do we characterize their sovereignty? · Weak or failed states are often not capable of adhering to international commitments · Formally equal, but capacity is not always clear · Sometimes this "equality" is ignored or abdicated in world politics (Krasner's organized hypocrisy) In extreme cases, measures are taken by the international community · Fighting maritime piracy in Somali waters · Foreign recognition of Libyan NTC prior to 2011 intervention Some states show internal sovereignty, but aren't acknowledged as sovereign states eg Kosovo · Limited number of diplomatic ties · Limited access to international organizations · Limited number of bilateral contacts and opportunities
Recognition is an important element of sovereignty · Recognition by some states is more important than by others · Struggle for recognition successful: South Sudan · Struggle for recognition more complicated: Taiwan, Palestine Membership in the UN is a clear signal of external sovereignty as it is recognition of the sovereign statehood However UN only accepts sovereign states Examples of states not recognized by the UN: · Palestine admitted as observer state in 2012 · Ex: Taiwanmember until 1971, then replaced by PR China (Taiwan has no legal sovereignty) Internal and external sovereignty