The Question of Sovereignty
The sovereign state as defined by Mansbach in Global Politics has never entirely existed due to the circumstances
brought about by the ever present interdependence of the state system. State decisions have affected foreign affairs throughout
history, rooting to the reasoning of the Treaty of Westphalia, brought about by a bloody thirty year war. In this case, rival
states foreign policies were interfering with one another, bringing about the long war. A case of final authority in state
decisions was affected by neighboring states policies. If one considered a situation where a state was truly sovereign and
had final authority, this state must be completely isolated and uninfluenced by any stronger state. This situation rarely,
if ever exists in the modern state system.
Presently the sovereignty of a state is defined with different characteristics, including the right to rule, final
authority, recognition as a state and territory. The right to rule is examined by Hobbes in a situation regarding a monarch
as the ruling regime and an absolute king. In a state system there is a system of checks and balances as well as influence
from neighboring states. This lack of isolation that might be present in a system constructed by Hobbes prevents an absolute
rule over the citizens of the state. Final authority is regarded as the state conducting its own policies without the interference
of other states. Yet, throughout history the strongest state appears to exert the most power, and therefore assumes the most
authority over other states.
The only two factors of sovereignty that seem to be present
in the modern states system include recognition as a state and territory. Recognition as a state allows a state to become
admitted to international organizations such as the UN and to begin trade that can lead to development. Many issues regarding
underdeveloped sub-Saharan Africa are connected to the fact that they are isolated from many of the benefits of trade and
commerce that other more developed countries have access to. Territory is defined as an area of land that is protected by
the state. This is regarded as an area rather than a volume, although states have been known to regard their air space as
territory.
The lack of final authority in the state system leads to a system of anarchy. Due to this condition there is a potential
for war ever existent between states. In this anarchic system the strongest state exerts the greatest will. Therefore, the
strong do what they will and the weak do what they must, according to Hobbes. States must resort to a self-help methodology
and balance-of-power tactics in order to prevent other states from becoming too strong.
In the modern state system sovereignty does not match the definition. Free trade violates state policies, overpowering
the state system and interfering. Globalization is deteriorating any final authority displayed by isolationist policies. In
the Global market the internet as well as media may transmit information across uncontrolled borders. The 3rd world
is suffering while the developed world gains as these stronger states exert their will and monetary needs upon these weaker
states. The sovereign state is undergoing a transition, as characterized by Rosenau, while the system becomes interconnected
and increasingly interdependent. This will lead to a full deterioration of final authority and the right to rule when a foreign
states decisions or an IGOs decisions dictate the policies of a state on the opposite side of the world.
