What is sovereign?

Sovereign

The term "sovereign" has several related meanings, but at its core, it refers to the supreme and independent authority within a territory. Here's a breakdown:

• Definition: At its most basic, <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/sovereignty" title="Sovereignty">sovereignty</a> is the supreme power or authority. It's the right to rule.

• In Political Theory: It's the concept of absolute, unchallengeable authority within a defined territory. It’s often linked to the modern nation-state. Thinkers like Jean Bodin and Thomas Hobbes explored this extensively. This means the state has the exclusive right to make laws and enforce them within its borders.

• Types of Sovereignty:

  • Internal Sovereignty: This refers to the state's power over its own population and territory. The state can create and enforce laws, collect taxes, and maintain order internally.
  • External Sovereignty: This concerns the state's independence from external actors. It includes the right to conduct foreign policy, enter into treaties, and defend itself from external aggression without interference from other states.

• Popular Sovereignty: This is the principle that the authority of a state and its government are created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives (Rule by the People). It is expressed (and sustained) through exercise of <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/popular%20sovereignty" title="Popular Sovereignty">popular sovereignty</a>.

• Sovereign States: These are independent and autonomous political entities recognized under international law. They possess all the attributes of <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/statehood" title="Statehood">statehood</a>, including a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

• Limits to Sovereignty: While traditionally considered absolute, in the modern world, sovereignty is increasingly seen as constrained by international law, human rights norms, and the rise of international organizations. For example, a state's actions can be scrutinized by the International Criminal Court if they violate international criminal law. The concept of <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/responsibility%20to%20protect" title="Responsibility to Protect">responsibility to protect</a> suggests a conditional sovereignty.

• Sovereign Immunity: A legal doctrine by which foreign sovereigns are immune from suit in the host country's courts. There are exceptions, typically when the sovereign engages in commercial activity within the host country.

• Sovereign Debt: Debt issued by a national government, often in a foreign currency. The ability of a nation to repay this debt is linked to its economic <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/fiscal%20sovereignty" title="Fiscal Sovereignty">fiscal sovereignty</a>.