IB Global Politics Sources of Sovereignty Notes

Understanding Sovereignty

Key Sources of Sovereignty

1. Possession and Use of Force

1. Use of Force Within the State:
   1. The use of force is considered essential for maintaining state governance.
   2. States are expected to have a monopoly on the use of force, without it, society could collapse into chaos.
   3. States usually have a judicial system and national police forces, with additional local or regional policing depending on the state's size.
2. Use of Force Against Other States:
   1. Most states maintain armed forces, but the use of force externally is meant to be avoided under international norms.
   2. The international community generally agrees that force is only justified if a state suffers an armed attack that breaches its sovereignty.
   3. Traditional views of warfare (armed attacks) may not always fit modern conflicts, where attacks can be more unconventional.

2. Legal Sovereignty

1. Refers to the recognition of a state's authority by international law.
2. Enshrined in documents like the United Nations Charter, which emphasizes territorial integrity and political independence.
3. International laws aim to:
   1. Promote friendly and cooperative relations between states
   2. Protect basic human rights for all individuals
   3. Resolve international disputes and prevent conflicts
   4. Limit both the internal and external use of force
   5. Regulate international trade and shipping rules
   6. Control and restrict the development of weapons

3. Economic Sovereignty

1. Involves a state's control over its economic resources and policies.
2. Includes the ability to regulate trade, taxation, and monetary policy.

4. Cultural Sovereignty

1. Refers to a state's ability to preserve and promote its cultural identity and values.
2. Often linked to language policies, education systems, and media regulation.

Challenges to Sovereignty

Globalization

1. Economic interdependence and transnational corporations can undermine economic sovereignty.
2. Cultural globalization may erode national identities.

International Institutions

1. Organizations like the United Nations and the European Union can limit state sovereignty through binding agreements and regulations.
2. Non-State Actors
   1. Groups like multinational corporations, NGOs, and terrorist organizations can influence or undermine state sovereignty.

Case study

Scotland and the Sovereignty Debate Within the UK

• Background
  • Scotland has been part of the United Kingdom since 1707 (Act of Union), but has maintained a distinct legal system, education system, and national identity.
  • The Scottish Parliament was re-established in 1999 through devolution, granting significant domestic policy autonomy.
  • The Scottish National Party (SNP) has governed Scotland since 2007, advocating for full independence.
• The 2014 Independence Referendum
  • Scotland held a legally binding referendum on September 18, 2014 - voters rejected independence 55% to 45%.
  • The UK government agreed to respect the result under the Edinburgh Agreement (2012) - a rare example of a state consenting to a secession vote.
  • Brexit (2016) reignited the debate - Scotland voted 62% to Remain in the EU, but was taken out against its will.
• Contested Sovereignty
  • The UK Supreme Court ruled in 2022 that Scotland cannot hold a second referendum without Westminster consent.
  • This creates a tension between popular sovereignty (Scotland's democratic mandate) and parliamentary sovereignty (Westminster's legal authority).
  • Raises the question of whether self-determination applies to nations within established democratic states.
• IB Connections
  • Key case for analyzing sources of sovereignty - where does legitimate authority come from?
  • Illustrates the tension between internal self-determination (autonomy within a state) and external self-determination (full independence).
  • Compares to other sovereignty disputes: Catalonia, Quebec, Kurdistan - each resolved differently.