Interpreting Sovereignty
The Definition of Sovereignty
Simply put, the term "sovereignty" refers to "self-government" or a country's ability to administer its own affairs. In world politics, sovereignty is the foundation of international law and is given meaning through several principles, rights, and doctrines.
- The principle of the sovereign equality of states entitles each country to full respect by other states
- The right of independence guarantees a country's autonomy in their domestic affairs and external relations
- The doctrine of autonomy permits countries to avoid involvement in other's conflicts and coalitions
- The principle of non-interference obliges each country to refrain from uninvited involvement in another's internal affairs
The Importance of Sovereignty
Different countries often have unique interests and values, both in regards to their internal affairs and external relations. Sovereignty is important because it allows each individual nation to foster these unique values and interests. Canadians, for example, value state sponsored healthcare. As a sovereign state, Canada can undertake a public healthcare system even though other nations in the region do not. Furthermore, two dominant linguistic groups, English and French, characterize Canada. With the ability to administer to its own affairs, Canada is able to respect these linguistic groups through official bilingualism.
The Limits of Sovereignty
While sovereignty is valuable, it does have its limits. Often one nation's interests intersect with the interests of others. In these circumstances, it may be to a country's benefit to limit its sovereignty and enter into a cooperate relationship with another country. For example, since the 1950s Western European countries have sacrificed their national sovereignty to pursue mutual advantage through economic and political integration.
Furthermore, with the rise of transnational corporations and international trade, countries have become increasingly "interdependent" or "mutually dependent" on each other. This interdependence limits sovereignty by making the pursuit of national interests very costly. For example, the United States recently imposed duties on the importation of Canadian softwood lumber. By imposing the duties, the United States wanted to protect its softwood lumber industry from Canadian competition. However, the United States depends upon Canadian energy. As such, it has been suggested that Canada should cut its energy exports to the Untied States unless the duties on softwood lumber are revoked. By doing so, Canada limits American sovereignty by making the pursuit of its interests in the softwood industry too costly.
When to Limit Sovereignty
Sovereignty should be valued, but in some circumstances it may be appropriate to limit sovereignty because there is more to gain through cooperation, or because the pursuit of national interests in a particular area is too costly.
In determining whether it is appropriate to limit sovereignty, it is important to consider:
- Whether the objectives sought by limiting sovereignty are important
- Whether it is necessary to limit sovereignty to accomplish these objectives
- Whether it is reasonable to limit sovereignty to accomplish these objectives
To determine importance, it is necessary to examine the "benefits gained" and the "costs adverted" by limiting sovereignty. If the objectives are not sufficiently important, then there is no reason to limit sovereignty to pursue them.
To determine necessity, it is important to examine whether alternative and plausible means exist to accomplish the objectives without sacrificing sovereignty. If a plausible alternative exists, then there is no reason to limit sovereignty to pursue the objectives.
Finally, to determine reasonableness, it is important to examine whether the benefits of limiting sovereignty are proportionate to any possible negative impacts. If the negative impacts outweigh the benefits, then the decision to limit sovereignty would be unsound.
Conclusion
When interpreting sovereignty, the following points should be considered:
- Sovereignty refers to "self-government" or the ability of a country to administer its own
affairs
- Sovereignty is valuable as it allows a country to foster its unique values and interests
- While sovereignty is something to be pursued, it may be sacrificed in certain
circumstances
- In determining whether or not to limit sovereignty, it is important to examine:
- Whether the objectives sought by limiting sovereignty are important
- Whether it is necessary to limit sovereignty to accomplish these objectives
- Whether it is reasonable to limit sovereignty to accomplish these objectives
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