Shifting Global Norms Around Sovereignty (DP IB Global Politics: HL): Revision Note

Global interdependence

• Global norms surrounding state sovereignty have shifted over the last century, reflecting  increased global economic interdependence and interconnectedness

• Today there is extensive evidence of interdependence or mutual reliance amongst many actors and stakeholders

  • This has impacted norms surrounding sovereignty

• In particular, the state is not always fully in control of what is happening within its borders

  • This can be seen in multiple ways

Ways global interdependence challenges state sovereignty

• There are multiple actors involved in political issues, not simply the state

Interference and influence of other states

• It has become more common to see challenges to state sovereignty

• Traditionally seen in wars and conflict, there are now multiple ways state actors can interfere with and influence the sovereign rights of states

  • Interfering in elections or other government institutions 

  • Criticising human rights policies 

  • Manipulating information shared within the state though social media, AI and other technologies 

  • Threatening or bribing politicians to make policies that benefit their state

  • Encouraging violent resistance

Humanitarian intervention

• Humanitarian intervention allows other actors to threaten or use military intervention against a state if an extreme humanitarian crisis is taking place

• The global community has long struggled with what action should be taken if atrocities are being committed within a state

  • Traditional notions of sovereignty prohibit any interference, but this has become increasingly challenged by the concept of humanitarian intervention

• It is mostly applied with the consent of the affected state, avoiding direct violation of state sovereignty

• If used without consent, it is a clear breach of traditional notions of state sovereignty

  • By taking the exclusive use of force away from the state

  • By crossing borders 

  • By removing the authority of the government

• Humanitarian intervention without the consent of the state is controversial

  • State sovereignty is an incredibly important concept in global politics, and this violates all of the well-established principles

Supranationality

• Supranationality is where countries give some of their decision-making power to a higher international authority that can make decisions binding on all members

  • This is linked to intergovernmental organisations (IGOs) and pooled sovereignty

  • Supranational organisations challenge traditional and realist views that the state is the most important actor in global politics

• These organisations are sometimes mistakenly called 'non-state actors'

  • However, as they are made up of state actors, they should be referred to as 'supranational organisations'.

• IGOs require states to work collectively and as a result the state loses its absolute authority to make decisions for itself

• The organisation has authority above its state members

  • Member states allow the organisation to make decisions on their behalf

  • Decisions made are binding and cannot be challenged or ignored

• Examples of supranational organisations include

  • The European Union (EU)

  • The World Trade Organisation