Theme 7 The State, the Individual and Foreign Policy in a Global Age
States and Statehood in Flux
Introduction
• The concept of the state is a historical institution that has evolved over
time.
• The Peace of Westphalia (1648) is often seen as a pivotal moment in the
formalization of modern statehood, establishing the mutual recognition
of states' territorial sovereignty.
Historical Expansion of the State System
• The concept of the state expanded from Europe into North America,
South America, and Japan during the 19th century, eventually becoming
a global system in the 20th century through decolonization.
• In the 21st century, there is an increasing desire for statehood, with the
United Nations recognizing 193 states, compared to 50 in 1945.
Key Features of Statehood
• States have a dualistic structure: outward-looking and inward-looking.
• Outward: Dealing with the state's relations with other states and its ability
to provide external protection.
• Inward: Dealing with relations with individuals and groups within its
borders and the maintenance of domestic order.
Montevideo Convention and the Declaratory Theory of Statehood
• The Montevideo Convention defines four key features of statehood:
defined territory, permanent population, effective government, and the
capacity to enter into relations with other states.
, • It advances a 'declaratory' theory of statehood, where states become states
by meeting minimal criteria, rather than a 'constitutive' theory that
requires recognition.
• States have the right to defend their integrity and independence, even
without recognition.
Sovereignty: The Core Characteristic of Statehood
• Sovereignty is a core characteristic of the state.
• States exercise sovereign jurisdiction within defined territorial borders
and are autonomous and independent actors.
• Sovereignty can be understood both internally and externally.
Internal Sovereignty
• It refers to the location of power or authority within a state.
• Historically, authority was vested in a single ruler (monarch), but
Rousseau's popular sovereignty concept led to the idea that ultimate
authority resides with the people.
• The concept of popular sovereignty is a basis for modern democratic
theory, emphasizing fair and competitive elections.
• Some argue that the idea of an absolute and final source of authority is
difficult to reconcile with the reality of diffused power and pluralist
competition in modern democratic states.
External Sovereignty
• It defines a state's relationship with other states and international actors.
• External sovereignty is vital for global politics and provides the basis for
international law.
, • It establishes that states are independent and autonomous in
international affairs and guarantees their territorial integrity and political
independence.
• Disputed claims to external sovereignty often lead to conflicts in world
politics.
This dual nature of statehood, involving both internal and external sovereignty,
is crucial for understanding the state's role in the international system. It shapes
not only a state's relations with its citizens but also its position on the world
stage.
The State
Definition of the State
• The state is a political association that establishes sovereign jurisdiction
within defined territorial borders.
• In political theory, the state is typically contrasted with civil society,
encompassing institutions responsible for the collective organization of
communal life, funded through taxation.
• In international politics, the state is often defined from an external
perspective and includes civil society.
Characteristics of the State
• A state is characterized by four main features: a defined territory, a
permanent population, an effective government, and sovereignty.
• This equates a state to a country in common usage, such as "China" or
"America," when referring to their actions on the international stage.
Controversies Surrounding External Sovereignty
, • The concept of external sovereignty has become controversial, with moral
and practical concerns.
• Moral concerns arise because external sovereignty might allow states to
mistreat their citizens, potentially subjecting them to abuse, torture, or
even genocide.
• Tensions exist between the principle of external sovereignty and human
rights or cosmopolitan standards of justice.
• Humanitarian intervention, as discussed in Chapter 14, reflects these
tensions.
• Questions about the practical significance of external sovereignty have
grown due to power disparities between states and modern
developments.
Challenges to State Sovereignty
• Globalization has put states under significant pressure and led to
predictions about the "end of sovereignty" and the "twilight of the state."
Impact of Globalization on State Sovereignty
• Globalization has affected state sovereignty in various ways:
• It has increased the interconnectivity of the global economy and
societies, leading to a decrease in a state's ability to fully control its
domestic and international affairs.
• Transnational organizations, multinational corporations, and global
financial institutions exert substantial influence on states.
• Information technology and mass media have contributed to the
spread of ideas and information beyond state borders.
States and Statehood in Flux
Introduction
• The concept of the state is a historical institution that has evolved over
time.
• The Peace of Westphalia (1648) is often seen as a pivotal moment in the
formalization of modern statehood, establishing the mutual recognition
of states' territorial sovereignty.
Historical Expansion of the State System
• The concept of the state expanded from Europe into North America,
South America, and Japan during the 19th century, eventually becoming
a global system in the 20th century through decolonization.
• In the 21st century, there is an increasing desire for statehood, with the
United Nations recognizing 193 states, compared to 50 in 1945.
Key Features of Statehood
• States have a dualistic structure: outward-looking and inward-looking.
• Outward: Dealing with the state's relations with other states and its ability
to provide external protection.
• Inward: Dealing with relations with individuals and groups within its
borders and the maintenance of domestic order.
Montevideo Convention and the Declaratory Theory of Statehood
• The Montevideo Convention defines four key features of statehood:
defined territory, permanent population, effective government, and the
capacity to enter into relations with other states.
, • It advances a 'declaratory' theory of statehood, where states become states
by meeting minimal criteria, rather than a 'constitutive' theory that
requires recognition.
• States have the right to defend their integrity and independence, even
without recognition.
Sovereignty: The Core Characteristic of Statehood
• Sovereignty is a core characteristic of the state.
• States exercise sovereign jurisdiction within defined territorial borders
and are autonomous and independent actors.
• Sovereignty can be understood both internally and externally.
Internal Sovereignty
• It refers to the location of power or authority within a state.
• Historically, authority was vested in a single ruler (monarch), but
Rousseau's popular sovereignty concept led to the idea that ultimate
authority resides with the people.
• The concept of popular sovereignty is a basis for modern democratic
theory, emphasizing fair and competitive elections.
• Some argue that the idea of an absolute and final source of authority is
difficult to reconcile with the reality of diffused power and pluralist
competition in modern democratic states.
External Sovereignty
• It defines a state's relationship with other states and international actors.
• External sovereignty is vital for global politics and provides the basis for
international law.
, • It establishes that states are independent and autonomous in
international affairs and guarantees their territorial integrity and political
independence.
• Disputed claims to external sovereignty often lead to conflicts in world
politics.
This dual nature of statehood, involving both internal and external sovereignty,
is crucial for understanding the state's role in the international system. It shapes
not only a state's relations with its citizens but also its position on the world
stage.
The State
Definition of the State
• The state is a political association that establishes sovereign jurisdiction
within defined territorial borders.
• In political theory, the state is typically contrasted with civil society,
encompassing institutions responsible for the collective organization of
communal life, funded through taxation.
• In international politics, the state is often defined from an external
perspective and includes civil society.
Characteristics of the State
• A state is characterized by four main features: a defined territory, a
permanent population, an effective government, and sovereignty.
• This equates a state to a country in common usage, such as "China" or
"America," when referring to their actions on the international stage.
Controversies Surrounding External Sovereignty
, • The concept of external sovereignty has become controversial, with moral
and practical concerns.
• Moral concerns arise because external sovereignty might allow states to
mistreat their citizens, potentially subjecting them to abuse, torture, or
even genocide.
• Tensions exist between the principle of external sovereignty and human
rights or cosmopolitan standards of justice.
• Humanitarian intervention, as discussed in Chapter 14, reflects these
tensions.
• Questions about the practical significance of external sovereignty have
grown due to power disparities between states and modern
developments.
Challenges to State Sovereignty
• Globalization has put states under significant pressure and led to
predictions about the "end of sovereignty" and the "twilight of the state."
Impact of Globalization on State Sovereignty
• Globalization has affected state sovereignty in various ways:
• It has increased the interconnectivity of the global economy and
societies, leading to a decrease in a state's ability to fully control its
domestic and international affairs.
• Transnational organizations, multinational corporations, and global
financial institutions exert substantial influence on states.
• Information technology and mass media have contributed to the
spread of ideas and information beyond state borders.
