Legal Authority: The state can create and enforce laws that apply to all individuals and institutions within its borders.
Political Autonomy: The state can make decisions on governance, economic policy, and social issues without external interference.
Example
The United States exercises internal sovereignty through its federal government, which has the authority to enact laws, collect taxes, and maintain a military.
Challenges to Internal Sovereignty
Civil Conflict: Internal wars or rebellions can undermine a state's control.
Decentralization: Federal systems may distribute power to regional governments, complicating central authority.
Non-State Actors: Groups like multinational corporations or terrorist organizations can challenge state authority.
Example
The Syrian Civil War illustrates a breakdown of internal sovereignty, with the government losing control over large parts of its territory to rebel groups and external actors.
External Sovereignty
Key Features of External Sovereignty
International Recognition: A state is acknowledged as independent by other states and international bodies.
Territorial Integrity: Other states are expected to respect a state's borders and refrain from interference.
Participation in International Relations: Sovereign states can enter treaties, join international organizations, and engage in diplomacy.
Example
The United Nations Charter enshrines the principle of external sovereignty, emphasizing non-interference in the domestic affairs of member states.
Challenges to External Sovereignty
Globalization: Economic interdependence and international institutions can limit state autonomy.
Humanitarian Intervention: Actions taken to prevent human rights abuses may violate traditional notions of sovereignty.
Recognition Disputes: Some entities, like Taiwan, have limited international recognition, affecting their external sovereignty.
Example
The NATO intervention in Kosovo (1999) raised questions about external sovereignty, as it was conducted without United Nations approval to stop human rights violations.
The Interplay Between Internal and External Sovereignty
Mutual Reinforcement: Strong internal sovereignty can enhance external sovereignty by ensuring stable governance and compliance with international norms.
While internal and external sovereignty are distinct, they are deeply interconnected.
A state's ability to maintain internal order often influences its standing in the international community.
Active recall
Explain how internal sovereignty and external sovereignty reinforce each other.
Identify one way external pressure can weaken a state's internal sovereignty.
Exam technique
Paper 1 (Source-Based, 1h15m, 25 marks)
For Q1 (3m), identify whether the source focuses on internal sovereignty (domestic control) or external sovereignty (international recognition).
For Q2 (4m), explain how the source illustrates the relationship between internal and external sovereignty - link to state capacity or foreign intervention.
For Q3 (6m), compare how sources present internal vs. external sovereignty challenges differently.
For Q4 (12m), evaluate whether internal or external threats to sovereignty are more significant today, using sources AND examples like failed states or foreign military bases.
Paper 2 (Extended Essay, 1h45m, 30 marks)
Section A: Analyze specific states facing both internal and external sovereignty challenges simultaneously.
Section B: Connect to themes like conflict, peacekeeping, or humanitarian intervention for integrating essays.
Top band (13-15) requires diverse perspectives - how realists, liberals, and critical theorists view internal vs. external sovereignty.
Paper 3 - HL Only (Stimulus-Based, 1h30m, 28 marks)
For Q1 (3m), analyse whether the stimulus highlights internal or external sovereignty tensions.
For Q2b (6m), recommend a response balancing domestic authority with international obligations.
For Q3 (15m), synthesize case studies showing how internal and external sovereignty pressures interact across different crises.
Case study
Taiwan and the Contested Sovereignty Question
Background
Taiwan has functioned as an independent state since 1949 with its own government, military, currency, and democratic elections.
China claims Taiwan as a breakaway province under its "One China" policy and has never renounced the use of force for reunification.
Only 12 countries formally recognize Taiwan (2024) - most nations maintain unofficial relations to avoid angering Beijing.
Internal Sovereignty
Taiwan meets all Montevideo Convention criteria for statehood: permanent population (23.5 million), defined territory, government, and capacity for international relations.
Transitioned from authoritarian rule to vibrant democracy - ranked among Asia's freest societies by Freedom House.
Has the world's 21st largest economy and is critical to global technology supply chains (TSMC).
External Sovereignty Challenges
Excluded from the UN, WHO, ICAO, and most international organizations due to Chinese pressure.
The US maintains strategic ambiguity - acknowledging China's position but selling arms to Taiwan under the Taiwan Relations Act.
China has dramatically increased military pressure - record incursions into Taiwan's air defense zone since 2020.
IB Connections
The most important case for examining contested sovereignty and internal vs. external dimensions.
Illustrates how recognition is a political act - states choose whom to recognize based on strategic interests, not legal criteria.
Raises questions about whether effective sovereignty matters more than formal international recognition.
