The Meaning of Sovereingnty

David Sibley

This essay was a very interesting read. It presented the general "rules" of sovereignty, and then cited modern day issues. It brought up points that some nations no longer have to be sovereign to be independent nations recognized by the other nations in the global community. For example, the author chose to look at the nation of Andorra which sits in the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain. Andorra's two heads of State are the Bishop of Urgell in Spain and the President of France, and the Constitutional Court's members are chosen by both France and Spain. So the nation of Andorra is recognized internationally, but the question is posed is it truly Sovereign? Also looked at is Somalia, and Taiwan, how one is considered a State even though it is a failed one, where as the other is only globally recognized by twenty countries. The Israeli and Palestinian conflict was also examined, and how Israel would seek to have powers similar to those France has over Monaco. Overall I found this a very pertinent article and one that helped define, at least for me, what sovereignty has become of the past few centuries.