Sovereignty is associated with autonomy.
Sovereignty is a concept that can be understood in different ways depending on the chosen approach. Within the realm of politics , sovereignty is associated with the exercise of authority in a certain territory. This authority rests with the people, although the people do not directly exercise it but delegate this power to their representatives.
The dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) also defines the concept of sovereignty as the highest authority within a political scheme and mentions the sovereign as the superior being within an entity that is not material.
For example: "Argentina once again claimed sovereignty over the Falkland Islands" , "We cannot say what to do in a territory over which we have no sovereignty" , "The Central American president preferred not to make statements about the conflict since he said he had no intention of getting involved in the sovereignty of a foreign country" .
Etymology of sovereignty
Before moving forward with the definition of the term sovereignty, it is important to determine its etymological origin . In this sense, it must be emphasized that it is found in Latin and more specifically in the union of several elements of said language.
Thus, it is formed by the sum of super ( "above" ), the suffix anus (which can be translated as "origin" ) and the suffix ia . Based on this, we could determine that the meaning of the concept is that of the quality that the sovereign has; that is, the one who has authority over the rest.
The power of the State
In this sense, it is important to emphasize that there are various types of sovereignty. Thus, we find national sovereignty , which establishes that power is in the hands of the people and that it is exercised through the set of constitutional bodies that are representative of the citizenry.
Let us take the case of Spain . In this country, its Magna Carta , and more precisely in its article 1.2 , establishes that national sovereignty resides in the Spanish people and that it is precisely from them that the respective powers of the State arise.
A war of independence to achieve decolonization is one way to achieve sovereignty.
Importance of sovereignty
Jean Jacques Rousseau argued that it is always the people who have the right to exercise sovereignty. However, each individual faces the duality of acting as a sovereign and also as a subject simultaneously. People are involved in creating authority while at the same time being subject to the very authority they helped develop.
These characteristics make, for Rousseau , all citizens equal and able to behave freely . There is no specific person who commands, but rather orders are issued by an undetermined subject who represents the will of the people.
Other uses of the term
In international law , sovereignty is the right of a State to exercise its powers. Violation of a country's sovereignty can have tragic consequences, including the start of a war .
In addition to all of the above, we can determine that sovereignty is a word that in ancient times was used as a synonym for arrogance or pride . A meaning that, to a certain extent, is in line with the term sovereign with which it is related, since it was the one that "was above the rest."
The defense of national security is key to a country's sovereignty.
Examples of sovereignty
Sovereignty is often associated with political power . A sovereign government, therefore, has the power to administer its territory within the limits imposed by the Constitution. Let us take the case of Uruguay : it is a country with a certain territory in South America. The government elected by the Uruguayan people in democracy has self-determination to define and execute the policies that govern within it.
Sovereignty is often linked to independence . For example, Algeria was a French colony until it gained independence after a long war. Since 1962 , Algerians have had sovereignty to decide their own destiny.
The dispute over sovereignty can be reflected through a territorial conflict linked to borders. These conflicts can be resolved through diplomacy through international relations or lead to military action. We can mention the example of Ecuador and Peru , which maintained an extensive border dispute over the definition of sovereignty in areas of the Andes mountain range and the Amazon River basin.
It is also possible to point out the case of Argentina and the United Kingdom , countries in conflict over the sovereignty of the Malvinas Islands ( Falkland Islands for the British). The Argentine authorities frequently lodge their claim with the United Nations (UN) seeking international recognition of their claim.
It is interesting to note that there are peoples who do not have sovereignty over territories. The Gypsies , for example, do not have a nation-state.
Another issue to consider is that sovereignty can be affected even without an attack on territorial integrity. An economic blockade or international sanctions can curtail a government's scope for action, and its mandate will be affected.