Sovereignty
The word sovereignty first appeared in English during the 14th century. Its spelling varied widely before settling into its modern form influenced by the English word reign. The term arises from the unattested Vulgar Latin superanus meaning chief or ruler. This root itself derives from the Latin word super which means over. Early usage reflected a simple hierarchy where one person held authority above others. Over centuries the concept expanded to describe supreme control within a territory. Modern definitions now encompass both internal lawmaking power and external autonomy. The evolution of this single word mirrors the shifting political landscapes of Europe.
Roman jurist Ulpian observed that people transferred all their imperium and power to the Emperor. He stated laws do not bind the emperor while decisions by the emperor have the force of law. These statements expressed an absolute form of sovereignty originating from the people though he did not use the term expressly. In medieval Europe monarchs were not strongly sovereign because they shared power with feudal aristocracy. Both rulers and nobles remained constrained heavily by custom throughout the Middle Ages. Sovereignty existed then primarily as de jure rights belonging to nobility and royalty. The concept lay dormant until civil wars created a craving for stronger central authority in the late 16th century. Jean Bodin presented theories calling for absolute monarchy partly in reaction to chaos during French wars of religion.
Thomas Hobbes published Leviathan in 1651 depicting the Sovereign as a massive body wielding sword and crosier composed of many individual people. His work achieved legal status through the Peace of Westphalia signed in 1648 which established territorial sovereignty norms. Hobbes argued people must join a commonwealth and submit to a Soveraigne Power compelling them toward the common good. He claimed relations between people and sovereign rested on negotiation rather than natural submission. Jean-Jacques Rousseau later defined popular sovereignty placing legitimacy directly within the people themselves. His Social Contract published in 1762 described sovereignty as inalienable since will cannot be transmitted. Rousseau condemned distinctions between origin and exercise of sovereignty found in constitutional monarchies or representative democracies. These thinkers transformed sovereignty from divine right into a mechanism based on social contracts accepted widely by 1800.
No state remains sovereign in the sense they were prior to the Second World War today. Transnational governance agreements and pooled sovereignty unions like the European Union have eroded traditional state powers. The Holocaust prompted vast majority of states to reject Westphalian permissiveness towards supremacist power formulations. They signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 marking first step toward circumscribing national powers. This was soon followed by Genocide Convention legally requiring nations to punish genocide. Beginning in 1990 practical expression emerged when UN endorsed political or military actions previously considered illegitimate interference. Cases in Yugoslavia Bosnia Kosovo Somalia Rwanda Haiti Cambodia and Liberia demonstrated this shift. In 2005 revision made explicit with Responsibility to Protect agreement endorsed by all UN member states allowing outsiders to assume responsibility if state fails protecting citizens despite prior norms forbidding such interference.
Internal sovereignty examines relationship between sovereign power and political community focusing on legitimacy questions. Max Weber offered categorization of political authority using categories of traditional charismatic and legal-rational forms. Louis XIV of France during seventeenth century claimed he was the state representing internal sovereignty vested in single person. Jean-Jacques Rousseau rejected monarchical rule favoring public sovereignty where ultimate authority vests in people themselves expressed through general will. Public sovereignty means power elected and supported by members aiming for good of people forming basis for modern democratic theory. John Austin argued UK sovereignty resided neither in Crown nor people but in Queen-in-Parliament creating parliamentary sovereignty doctrine. External sovereignty concerns relationship between sovereign power and other states determining when intervention becomes permissible under international law. The Peace of Westphalia established notion of territorial sovereignty as norm of noninterference even though treaty reaffirmed multiple levels within Holy Roman Empire.
Common questions
When did the word sovereignty first appear in English?
The word sovereignty first appeared in English during the 14th century. Its spelling varied widely before settling into its modern form influenced by the English word reign.
Who defined popular sovereignty placing legitimacy within the people themselves?
Jean-Jacques Rousseau later defined popular sovereignty placing legitimacy directly within the people themselves. His Social Contract published in 1762 described sovereignty as inalienable since will cannot be transmitted.
What treaty established territorial sovereignty norms in 1648?
His work achieved legal status through the Peace of Westphalia signed in 1648 which established territorial sovereignty norms. The Peace of Westphalia established notion of territorial sovereignty as norm of noninterference even though treaty reaffirmed multiple levels within Holy Roman Empire.
Which year did states sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to circumscribe national powers?
They signed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 marking first step toward circumscribing national powers. This was soon followed by Genocide Convention legally requiring nations to punish genocide.
When did UN member states endorse the Responsibility to Protect agreement in 2005?
In 2005 revision made explicit with Responsibility to Protect agreement endorsed by all UN member states allowing outsiders to assume responsibility if state fails protecting citizens despite prior norms forbidding such interference.
How many years after Acts of Union 1707 did Scotland decide to continue pooling sovereignty in 2014?
Acts of Union 1707 created unitary state now known as United Kingdom aligning Scottish and English systems of currency taxation and trade laws. In 2014 people of Scotland decided to continue pooling sovereignty with rest of United Kingdom after referendum negotiated terms in 2012.