NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY IN THE FACE OF A GLOBAL SOCIETY

Wikipedia online posits that sovereignty, in political theory, is a substantive term designating supreme authority over some polity. The concept of sovereignty has changed in its definition and application over time. The current notion of national sovereignty presupposes four basic aspects consisting of territory, population, authority and recognition.

 

In a society like Nigeria, representative democracy ensures that the exercise of sovereignty is transferred from the people to those they have elected to form a legislative body called the National Assembly or the executive (where different arms of government exist) or a combination of the different arms of government.

Accordingly within the context of international law, sovereignty means that a government has full control over affairs within a territorial or geographical area or limit. Thus, determining whether a country is sovereign has not being specifically defined, and has being often times a matter of diplomatic dispute. In today’s global society, where partnership and interdependence of states or nations has become prevalent, absolute sovereignty becomes difficult to ascertain. This means that a state or country could have full national jurisdiction and sovereignty on some aspects like national airspace, territorial land and water but not territorial airspace, exclusive economic zones or the stretch of the seabed adjacent to the shores of the country.

International law is a set of generally accepted rules which become binding in advancing the relationship that exists between states or nations. It provides a framework for the promotion of stable and organized international relations. International law is primarily applicable to countries rather than individuals. However, state laws may become international laws when treaties delegate national jurisdiction to international law courts such as the European Court of Human Rights or the International Criminal Court. Hence, treaties such as the Geneva Conventions may require national law to conform.

The challenges of national sovereignty have continued to confront nations and international/regional blocs. One may wonder why enacting an anti-gay law cannot not be the sole preserve of Nigeria as an independent nation, but continuous to receive reactions from other countries like Britain threatening to cut ties with the Black Country. It is true that in recent times, there has been incessant global challenges including issues of terrorism that require collective efforts to deal with; however, within a recognized league of nations, lies their peculiarity in ways of doing things which includes culture, system of government, religious practice and socio-economic status amongst others.

A pertinent point to note is that while international treaties, pacts and agreements require national consent or ratification, the peculiar nature of countries is rather undermined during decision making, since most other smaller nations act as mere members and rarely contribute to the enactment of such universal set rules that tend to govern them.

Hence, to what extent nations are sovereign in the face of globalization, remains a concept that has to be defined in international law. The recent pull out of Gambia from the common wealth of nations is a rider which expands this debate.

Nations must act independently but not to the detriment of their neighbors or others, however, they must also assume sole responsibility in taking decisions that concern them especially to reflect the choice of the people rather than what these international organizations stand for. In this manner, international rules may remain guidelines as such, allowing member nations to deliberate with its citizens and consequently provide independent ways of doing their things.