Molly Silbert
GVPT200-0101
Professor Shirk
9/28/14
Sovereignty;
a complex and often ambiguous topic among nations. Sovereignty is defined
as a state, which is completely independent from other territories, and has a
complete form of government, containing military, economics, and social
programs, all derived and run from one nation. Sovereignty has a defined
territory, a permanent and steady population, and is independent from all.
Thus, meaning that the state does not share power or decision making with any
other nation beside itself. While sovereignty can be a difficult topic to
understand, there has been much discussion of the topic in the news headlines
today because of Scotland, and is an important matter that could affect us
all. While there are many advantages to
Sovereignty, there are also some disadvantages, that to many, sway their
opinion against it.
Sovereignty gives states the power
to make all decisions completely on their own. There are no hurdles to jump
through, as it can stop interference from other states from making law-making
or enforcement decisions for other nations. There are also the advantages of
having secured boarders, so that people from other countries cannot become a
citizen without first going through an application process. Sovereignty
ultimately leads to greater mutual cooperation, as people feel a sense of
pride, and partnership, belonging to a country.
However, there are major
disadvantages to becoming a sovereign nation. Sovereign nations have to be
unified and agree on everything. While in the long run, nations that become
sovereign, have a sense of national spirit, it could take awhile to come to
each decision. Another major disadvantage to becoming a soverign nation, is
that Nations that become sovereign, basically give up their rights for other
countries to help them out in times of need.
In my opinion, Sovereignty is a
necessity for a country to maintain independence just as the United States has
done when they broke away from England. However, sovereignty can sometimes
become jeopardized within a nation, by conflicting political opinions regarding
trade, national defense and immigration. A standard by which a nation remains
sovereign has to be more ridged than flexible, because if the standards are
violated it threatens sovereignty itself.
Bibliography:
http://www.globalization101.org/the-issue-of-sovereignty/
http://www.socionauki.ru/journal/articles/127716/
http://www.ehow.com/info_8643248_advantages-sovereign-unity.html
Your paper on the sovereign relates to another GVPT course I am taking. In the other class we read "Leviathan" written by Hobbes. Hobbes focuses on the sovereign and what it means to be a part of a sovereign. One of his ideas is that the Sovereign serves to give the people the pre-political individual rights that they have in the state of nature. He also discusses how agreeing to live under the sovereign means that you are given up the right to govern yourself, and that you trust the sovereign to act in your best interest. I think you were right to bring up the point about the benefits and conflicts of having a sovereign. His definition of the sovereign doesn't completely apply to today, it is still something to consider and it is a big commitment for a territory to become a sovereign.
ReplyDeleteYou state that when a State becomes sovereign they give up the right for other countries to help them in a time of need, but we see a lot of interaction and help between sovereign States. Do you think that because of this "independence" and lack of stablished help, sovereign States help each other out because they understand the importance of the freedoms they have but also the hardships that are endured by sovereign states? or how would you explain the aid that states provide for others?
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