Meaning, Types, Location, and Limitations of Sovereignty

What is Sovereignty?

Sovereignty is the supreme power of a state to make and enforce laws, with all the coercive powers it cares to employ within its geographical territory, without external control.

The terms “SovereignSovereign has everything to do with power. It often describes a person who has supreme power or authority, such as a king or queen. More” and “Sovereignty” were first used by the French jurists in the fifteenth century and later they found their way into English, Italian, and German political literature.

The concept of sovereignty was first introduced into political terminology, in 1576, by Jean Bodin.

Types of Sovereignty:

(i) Legal Sovereignty: It is the supreme power of a state to make and enforce them without external control. The power the government exercises on behalf of the people.

(ii) Popular/Political Sovereignty: It is the ultimate power of the electorateall the people in a country or area who are entitled to vote in an election. More to elect the government.

(iii) De Facto Sovereignty: This type of sovereignty exists when legitimate sovereignty has been removed and the successor is able to compel obedience. The ruler may not have emerged through a legitimate method e.g. military rule.

(iv) De Juve Sovereignty: This type of sovereignty emerges when legal sovereignty emerges according to the law. It possesses a legitimate claim to power.

(v) External Sovereignty: It is the type of sovereignty achieved when a state is independent or free from external influence as it administers the state and relates with other states on an equal basis. The state determines its relationship with other states in the world.

(vi) Internal Sovereignty: This type refers to the supremacy of a state to make and enforce the law within its geographical territory without any external influence.

Location of Sovereignty:

It is usually difficult to locate where the ultimate power lies in a state. The type of operational government in a state will help to locate sovereignty.

Limitation of Sovereignty:

(i) International treaties entered into by different states are a limitation to the sovereignty of such states.

(ii) Public opinion – both internal and external public opinion limits sovereignty.

(iii) The electorate can also limit the sovereignty of government by voting the government out of power.

(iv) The provisions of the constitution and rule of law also cannot be ignored.

(v) Crises and states of emergency can also limit sovereignty.

(vi) Military and technological might of a state also limits the sovereignty of poor states.

(vii) States with poor resources depend on the richer states for difficult types of assistance.

(viii) Members of international organizations limit sovereignty as member states are to respect the charter and resolutions of such organizations.

(ix) Diplomatic immunity also limits sovereignty.

(x) External trade limits sovereignty.

(xi) Geographical location e.g. landlocked countries and nearness to other states limit sovereignty.

(xii) External aid limits the sovereignty of states.

(xiii) The interdependence of states is an important factor.

(xiv) Religion, customs, and tradition can also limit sovereignty.