Challenges to Sovereignty (DP IB Global Politics: SL): Revision Note

State sovereignty refers to a state’s ability to exercise full control within its borders without external interference

However, in contemporary global politics, this control is often limited or challenged

Challenges to sovereignty occur when a state is unable to fully control its territory, population, or decision-making, either due to internal pressures or external actors

• These challenges can be broadly grouped into three main types:

  • Economic challenges – from actors such as transnational companies (TNCs) that influence state decision-making

  • Political and identity-based challenges – from nationalist movements seeking autonomy or independence

  • Security challenges – from violent non-state actors that undermine state authority through force

A transnational company is a large business that operates and manages production or services in more than one country

Increased global interdependence has facilitated the growth in financial power of several TNCs

• Companies like Amazon, Apple and Saudi Aramco have more wealth than many states - this power can be used to challenge state sovereignty

Many less economically developed states enter into agreements with TNCs in the hope this will facilitate economic growth

• Although this can be beneficial it can also threaten state sovereignty when

  • TNCs take over resource extraction, thereby limiting the government’s ability to manage its economic resources

  • TNCs demand regulations and laws be adapted, thereby limiting the state’s control of the legal and judicial system

  • TNCs financially support and lobby for politicians who will be compliant to their demands, thereby interfering with government leadership

Political theorists such as Samir Amin argue that many TNCs are a modern version of colonial rulers

• Their primary purpose when dealing with less economically developed states is exploitation - by extracting resources, taking most of the profits, and manipulating policy to serve their own interests

Sometimes groups of people (usually living within a state but sometimes across many states) share a common cultural identity which differs from most of the population

• These groups are sometimes referred to as nation-states

They sometimes reject the authority of the state they live in and wish to create their own sovereign state

• Nationalism movements can be linked to long historical grievances

• Often these groups feel that they have been unfairly treated by the government of the state in which they currently live

• By rejecting the authority of the state, they challenge its internal sovereignty

• Nationalist movements can use violent methods which threaten states’ exclusive use of force and border security, and contribute to regional instability

  • E.g. The Catalonian independence movement has used violence to challenge the authority of the Spanish state 

• Nationalist movements can also use peaceful methods but still challenge the authority of the state 

  • Indigenous land claims and claims for greater political autonomy are being peacefully negotiated in Canada and Australia

• Nationalist movements can also span across several states

Violent non-state actors always threaten state sovereignty

• They challenge the state’s right to the exclusive use of force

• They contribute to social instability and instill a lack of confidence in political leadership and policing

• They often cross borders illegally

Violent non-state actors can challenge the sovereignty of multiple states simultaneously, both through direct conflict and by encouraging attacks across national borders