Sovereignty is a complex term and can be interpreted into a number of meanings, but generally speaking it can be defined as the authority possessed by some legitimate power in the state to rule the geographic area within the boundaries of the state according to some well defined rules and regulations, that are not dictated by some outsider i. e. the state is all-powerful to make laws and run the affairs of its territory according to its own wishes.
The people living by right within the boundaries of the state are its members and the laws of the land are applicable on them. They are bound to obey them.The concept of sovereignty says that no external power will interfere or dictate in the internal affairs of the state. In the modern times the traditional concept of sovereignty is undergoing some change because of advancement of technology, globalization and softening of borders. Some non-state bodies are cropping up and claiming strong powers along with the previously completely sovereign states, this way the sovereignty of states is getting weaker. Though super-national institutions are cropping up but their membership is still dependent upon the members’ belonging to different geographic groups.
But it is also a fact that in the present globalize world states cannot claim an absolute sovereignty over their territories. i. e. the concept of sovereignty is undergoing some change-it is softening. For instance, the institutions like the EU and the UN have taken away many important rights from the erstwhile altogether sovereign states. The members of the EU have given away many claims of law making and observing to the supreme institution of the EU.
International relations, in an organized way, have been made possible due to the existence of sovereign states.In present age along with the supranational institutions many other actors are appearing on the international scene that are claiming a share in the sovereignty of nations such as terrorists, NGOs, multinational companies etc. another important fact in this regard is that in the future the states who fail to deliver the goods in the sense of carrying out good governance or failing to prove basic amenities to their citizens will possibly be forced to forfeit their sovereignty in favor of their neighbor sates or other.Globalization is bringing dynamic changes in the international scenario where a large number of state and non-state actors have started playing their different and effective roles.
The world is getting integrated speedily. The concept of borders as a hard protective shell is cracking. Earlier borders strongly resist the movement of goods and people across the countries but in the present globalize world in which states are giving way to their hard-boiled concept of sovereignty, the borders are getting soft and the movements of goods and people is getting pretty easier.Multinationals have played a strong role in this process by preparing and selling their products in different countries.
The movement of products, ideas and persons across the borders have become very fast. Cultures are getting heterogeneous and intermixed. Life styles, views and philosophies of life are changing immensely because of globalization, as this is a multidimensional and very dynamic process. The world has become so interlinked, economically and politically, that in present times, events that happen in one part of the world have the potential of bringing about a great change in the other parts of the world.So now a days countries before making their national strategies keep in mind their international impacts. Globalization means different things to people having varied minds.
It is also interpreted differently by different disciplines of study i. e. by politicians, economists, or by historians. It is an event, an ideology and a process. It is then believed that Globalization is a deep, vast and complex term.
It is an inevitable process in the present technological world.The telephones, faxes, airplanes, Internet etc are bringing the people of the world very close to each other. Distances have lost their preliminary importance. The state and non-state actors are trying to exert influence over one another.
It has become a demand of time that governments should cede a part of their sovereignty to the non-state actors in order to let the international system work smoothly. For instance in the present times governments of the globe have agreed to accept the supremacy of WTO in some respects for the sake of monitory benefits.Likewise the case with Kyoto protocol, according to which for the sake of stopping global warming a large number of sovereign governments have agreed to take certain measures that they otherwise would not have agreed to take. Thus in the present times the concept of sovereignty needs to be redefined. In the modern age states are losing sovereignty and it is perhaps in their better interests to lose it to some extent as in the globalize world states cannot live and survive as complete, independent and isolate units.The attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq are instances to prove the fact that borders are no longer able to keep the attacking enemies at bay, they are getting soft and the traditional concept of sovereignty in a globalize world does not offer a state complete liberty to do whatever its heart desires.
No state is allowed to disturb the world peace. The state who supports terrorism, proliferate nuclear weapons or is unable to provide basic amenities to its citizen cannot be tolerated in the present global international scenario in spite of the fact that the concern state is a sovereign state.For instance a big bundle of states intervened and thus violate the sovereignty of Serbia in order to stop the genocide in Kosovo. So we gather from this discussion that the concept of sovereignty needs to be redefined according to the demands of present age in order to establish and maintain peace across the globe.
A sort of balance is required between a world full of independent and sovereign governments and a kind of system of world government in order to save the world from anarchy and wide spread disturbance and unrest.The organizations working for the betterment of humanity faced immense problems and difficulties in carrying out their work in the war-torn countries. This is happening in Iraq too. The all-ready disturbed Iraqi people suffered immensely because of these restrictions and fetters laid on the organizations like the UN, by the US forces. The softening of borders have also allowed a confusing array of humanitarian and non-humanitarian workers to enter into the country and get themselves involved in constructive as well as destructive activities.
Iraqi people are not able to distinguish one from the other. In a globalize world, where borders are getting soft, the communication media is playing a gigantic role. It kept the whole world informed about what is happening in the world. Thus, in spite of the US claims that the situation is improving in Iraq, media informed the world-public that the devastated state of the country and the opinion held by Iraqi people spoke volumes of the fact that the situation is degrading further instead of improving, as is told by the US officials.
It informs the world that the situation of the country, at present, is even worse than the time when Saddam was ruling with an iron hand and when stringent sanctions remain imposed on the country for a long time. The basic amenities including health, education, nutrition, sewerage, housing, water, employment, electricity etc are denied to the Iraqis. The irony of the situation is that US officials are saying that the Iraqi situation is improving. While in reality the US is spending huge amount of money and manpower in this Iraqi cauldron to control the situation but to no avail.The situation is going from bad to worse and the Iraqi-refugee problem is getting multiplied with no end in sight.
Sectarian violence and sectarian segregation is increasing with suicide bombers killing scores of Iraqis in different cities of the country everyday. The soft borders are also allowing the terrorism and the sectarianism to spill over into the neighboring countries as well. The suicide bombing on the pattern of Iraq is happening in Afghanistan and Pakistan spoke volumes for the globalization of the world.
