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Nations & States
General Articles on Sovereignty
This section posts general articles on sovereignty issues.State Sovereignty and the Global Economy
Global and transnational forces increasingly usurp the power of states to determine their own fiscal and economic policies. Some countries peg their currency to the dollar to maintain exchange rate stability, but dollarization eliminates the possibility of independent national monetary policy and exposes countries to policies set in Washington. In the interest of attracting foreign investment, some states set up Export Processing Zones that turn sovereignty over to corporate investors, undermining national tax and regulatory systems.Political Integration and National Sovereignty
The European Union stands out as the world's most ambitious attempt to integrate soveriegn states into a united political body, and some European states remain wary that a strong EU will usurp too much national independence, particularly at the expense of weaker countries. Africa is also experimenting with political integration, and other regions may follow in the hope that strength follows unity. Still, it remains to be seen how much sovereignty states are willing to sacrifice for integration.State Sovereignty and Corruption
Corruption and money laundering drain states of billions of dollars every year, lining the pockets of officials, business leaders, and the already super-rich, leaving less revenue for social and economic services. Systematic official corruption runs rampant in many countries, often leaving citizens in poverty. Wealthy individuals and corporations evade taxes, which could be used for social programs, by setting up accounts in tax havens.States, Nations, and Civil Society
State boundaries, especially those created in the process of de-colonization, sometimes carve lines through fluid national and ethnic communities. Ethnic conflict arises when states run by majority peoples ignore or even violate the rights of minorities, as real economic and political conflicts deteriorate into nationalist violence. Because of the discontinuity between states and nations, some states fail and new states emerge as unrepresented or indigenous peoples demand their human, social, and economic rights. However, rival states also sometimes manipulate and fuel national movements, complicating their claim to legitimacy.State Sovereignty and Private Security Companies
In recent years, private companies have increasingly offered military and police services, ending a long-standing state monopoly on the use of force. Because they are available for hire, these companies are the ultimate neoliberal re-invention of the state, putting armed force at the direct service of those who can pay for it.
General Articles
Travelling Salesmen of Diplomacy (August 2000)
In this article from Le Monde diplomatique, George Ross laments the passing of traditional interstate politics. Globalization has reduced everything to trade issues, he claims, and presents his opinion on the state of the world.Tibet, China and the West: Empires of the Mind (April 1, 2008)
In this OpenDemocracy article, the author puts the China-Tibet issue in a historic perspective, considering their respective notions of sovereignty. During the first half of the 20th century, Tibet was de facto independent as China did not seek absolute control. But as China grew wary of Western Empires, the country’s nationalistic ideas increased. To create one strong bloc against US, European and Japanese Empires, China fully integrated Tibet. This way, nationalism became a means of legitimizing full sovereignty over Tibet.Eye of the Storm: Ethnic Identities and "Contested Sovereignties" in the Niger Delta (March 26, 2008)
Large oil companies, Western governments and ethnic minority groups all challenge Nigeria’s sovereignty over the oil-rich Niger Delta. This paper explores how these actors’ quest for oil wealth, land, water and self-determination have “redefined” state sovereignty. The Movement for Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) is fighting the government and large oil companies to gain control over the delta, claiming their right to self-determination. Meanwhile, the US, through its Africa Command (AFRICOM), seeks to undermine the state’s sovereignty, by securing its own control over the oil fields. (International Studies Association)The Farce of Iraqi Sovereignty (March 2008)
This Guernica article argues that, since the US occupation, Iraq has lost its sovereignty. Both the US and Iraqi government try to present the appearance of autonomy for the country. However, several US policy decisions, such as the building of a wall around Sunni districts, show that the US undermines Iraq’s independent decision-making. Pointing out that a country’s constitution is a key symbol of its sovereignty; the author criticizes the US controlled drafting of Iraq’s constitution in 2005. He concludes that only complete withdrawal of occupation troops will give Iraq its independence back. (Guernica)When the State Means Business (January 25, 2006)
Though richer than it was six years ago, the Russian state has sacrificed political freedom and economic justice through the concentration of power and wealth. According to Andrei Illarionov, former economic adviser to President Vladimir Putin, the "corporatization" of the Russian state has reinforced the power of wealthy "insiders" while marginalizing citizens and alienating Russia's neighbors. As with other corporate states, such as Libya, Angola, Chad, Iran, Syria, Venezuela and Saudi Arabia, Russian citizens can only restore civil, political and economic freedoms by challenging the state from the bottom up. (International Herald Tribune)A Pseudostate is Born (June 27, 2004)
As the US grants nominal independence to Iraq, Adam Hochschild takes a look at the phenomenon of countries "where most real power is in the hands of someone else." Examples of these "pseudostates" include the Bantustans of apartheid South Africa, the Soviet Socialist Republics under the Soviet Union, and present-day Afghanistan, Palestine, Bosnia and Congo. (TomDispatch)Why the White House is Pushing Cyprus Solution (January 30, 2004)
US pressure for resolution of "the Cyprus problem" appears less motivated by political goodwill than the possibility of using Cypriot reunification as a template for Iraq's reconstruction, and for mending diplomatic bridges with Europe. (Christian Science Monitor)Greece, Turkey to Be Given a UN Plan for Cyprus (November 9, 2002)
The UN will present to Greeks and Turks the most comprehensive peace proposal in more than 10 years. The Greeks seek a two-zone federation linked by a central government and the Turkish Cypriots want a confederation of two independent states. (Reuters)This Marks the Death of Deterrence (October 9, 2002)
The new US doctrine of "pre-emptive action" kills the principle of state sovereignty. "Regime change as an aim of military intervention is a direct challenge to the international system established by the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia." (Guardian)Preparing the Way for International Protection (December 19, 2001)
A new report,"The Responsibility to Protect," supports the view that an international duty to save civilians at risk trumps the sovereign rights of states. (The Globe and Mail)Jack Straw: There Is Nothing Inevitable in the Failure of States (October 22, 2001)
"The state not only makes war possible: it also makes peace possible." The latest geo-political developments demonstrates that conflicts often arise when the state fails and when there is lack of international cooperation. (Foreign & Commonwealth Office)Ways of the Patriots (July 3, 2001)
E. J. Dionne resolves the paradox of sovereignty: States need international organizations in order to protect their sovereignty. Conversely, only those international organizations that are subject to democratic control can succeed. (Washington Post)Self-determination and the Future of Democracy (January 25, 2001)
Prince Hans-Adam II of Liechtenstein argues that the further democratization of democracy and the extension of the right to self-determination are the most reliable strategies to ensure future international stability in anarchy. (International Institute for Strategic Studies)Sovereignty and Human Rights: The Search for Reconciliation (May, 2000)
States or individuals - which of these should hold the spotlight? Richard Falk finds ways to explain the complexities of the sovereignty vs. humanitarian intervention debate. (Issues of Democracy)Rise of the Corporate Nation-State (April 10, 2000)
This article from the Christian Science Monitor discusses how corporations across the globe are increasingly taking on some of the traditional roles of the state. At the heart of this debate lies the question of who should set society's agenda - big business or big government.Are National Taxes Adequate for a Global Economy? (April 4, 2000)
An in-depth analysis of the impending crisis the new global economy poses for government-based tax systems. (Independent)Despite Global Changes, National Sovereignty Remains King (March 30, 2000)
A short but all-embracing essay on states' role in globalization. (International Herald Tribune)Has Globalization Really Made Nations Redundant? (March 2000)
This article from Le Monde diplomatique analyzes the idea of the nation-state as "a thing of the past." The authors suggest that recent policies have weakened the nation-state through globalization.
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