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Lec 10. Sovereignty

The document provides an overview of sovereignty, defining it as the supreme power of a state and discussing its origins through social contract theories by Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. It highlights the significance of the Peace of Westphalia in establishing principles of state sovereignty, such as non-interference and territorial integrity. Additionally, it explores different theories of sovereignty, including Monistic and Pluralistic theories, and their implications in contemporary governance.

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Azowad Abrar Jaheen
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13 views18 pages

Lec 10. Sovereignty

The document provides an overview of sovereignty, defining it as the supreme power of a state and discussing its origins through social contract theories by Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau. It highlights the significance of the Peace of Westphalia in establishing principles of state sovereignty, such as non-interference and territorial integrity. Additionally, it explores different theories of sovereignty, including Monistic and Pluralistic theories, and their implications in contemporary governance.

Uploaded by

Azowad Abrar Jaheen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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North South University

Undergraduate Programme
POL 101: Introduction to Political Science

Course Teacher

Saifuddin Ahmed (SuA2)

Associate Professor

Department of Peace and Conflict Studies

Dhaka University

E-mail:saifuddin.ahmed@northsouth.edu

1
Sovereignty
Sovereignty is one of the elements of STATE
Sovereignty is “the supreme power of state” – Aristotle

Sovereignty is “the fullness of power of state” – Austine

Sovereignty is a distinct feature of a state which


separate state from all other organization
Origin of the ideas of Sovereignty

Social contract theory and sovereignty

Thomas Hobbes - King is absolutely sovereign

John Locke - King is partially sovereign

Jean Jack Rousseau - King’s sovereignty is limited


Origin of the ideas of Sovereignty

Peace of Westphalia

The Peace of Westphalia was a series of peace treaties signed between May and
October 1648 in the Westphalian cities of Osnabrück and Münster that virtually
ended the European wars of religion.

These treaties ended the Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) in the Holy Roman Empire,
with the Habsburgs and their Catholic allies on one side, and the Protestant powers
(Sweden, Denmark, Dutch, and Holy Roman principalities) and France (Catholic but
anti-Habsburg) on the other. The treaties also ended the Eighty Years' War (1568–
1648) between Spain and the Dutch Republic, with Spain formally recognising the
independence of the Dutch Republic. The Treaties of Westphalia brought to a close
a tumultuous period of European history which saw the deaths of approximately
eight million people.
Origin of the ideas of Sovereignty

Peace of Westphalia

The Peace of Westphalia contributed to have

➢ No state will interfere the other state’s affairs


➢ Territorial integrity
➢ Border inviolability
➢ Supremacy of the state rather than the Church
➢ Every state will have their own army
➢ Institutionalize diplomatic norms
➢ A sovereign is a supreme law making authority within its jurisdiction
Sovereignty is the quality of having supreme, independent
authority over a geographic area, such as a territory.

Internal Sovereignty and External Sovereignty


Supreme power as well as authority withing the state is internal
sovereignty

Supreme power to protect from external aggression is external


sovereignty

A sovereign state has an effective & independent government


within a defined state.
Characteristics of Sovereignty
1. Absoluteness – sovereignty is the most superior power within the state

2. Universality - Applicable to all

3. Permanence - Sovereignty continues as long as the state exist

4. Indivisibility - One sovereignty is in one state. Division of sovereignty


destroy/ divide state
5. Exclusivity - Decision of a sovereign entity can’t be overruled

6. Legitimacy - Sovereignty has legalistic sense.

a. De jure - sovereignty is the theoretical right to exercise exclusive control over the
subjects
b. De facto - Sovereignty is concerned with whether control in fact exists.
- Does the government power have sufficient strength to compel its
subject to obey it?
- Are the subjects of the governing power in the habit of obeying it?
Theories of Sovereignty

1. Monistic Theory

2. Pluralistic Theory
Theories of Sovereignty
1. Monistic Theory – Austin as the proponent

To monistic theory, state is supreme association and all other associations


are the creation of state and their existence depends on the will of the
sovereign power.

To Austin in every state there exists an authority to whom a large mass of


citizen show compliance. This authority is absolute, unlimited and
indivisible.
According to Austin the main tenets of sovereignty are:

1. Sovereign power is essential in every political society.

2. Sovereign power is indivisible. Division of sovereignty leads to its


destruction. It cannot be divided.

3. The command of sovereignty is superior to over all individuals and

4. Austin's theory says that the obedience to sovereign must be habitual.


2. Pluralistic Theory – Harold J. Laski

There is no single source of authority that is all competent and


comprehensive.

Laski says that


Sovereignty is neither absolute nor a unitary.
It is pluralist, constitutional and responsible.
State has no superior claim to an individual's allegiance.
It can justify itself as a public service corporation.
State exists to coordinate functions of human association in the best
interest.
The chief tenets of pluralist theory of sovereignty are as follows:

1. Pluralist sovereignty deals with political aspects of sovereignty.


2. State is one of the several human associations catering to various
interests of the individuals.
3. State is arbiter over conflicting interests of different associations.
4. State should compete with other human associations to claim superior
authority.
5. State was not absolute or supreme legally.
6. State is not the only source of legislation or law.
7. Law is very antithesis of command.
8. The state is both the child and parent of law.
9. The root of obedience of law isn't coercion but the will to obey.
10. State and government are not different. Thesis-central idea that person put forward to
prove or support, especially in writing or speech
antithesis” of another thing, we mean it's the direct opposite of that proposition or idea.
Sovereignty in 21st Century ?
Rigid or Flexible ?

Market vs. Sovereignty


?
Thank You

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