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Can sovereignty be shared or is it an all-or-nothing concept?

Venice Spering

Sovereignty is a complex concept that has been debated by scholars, politicians, and the general public for centuries. At its core, sovereignty refers to the authority and power vested in a state or nation to govern itself, make decisions and laws, and conduct international relations. However, there is a growing discussion about whether sovereignty can be shared or if it is an all-or-nothing concept.

On one hand, the traditional view of sovereignty suggests that it is an all-or-nothing concept. In this view, a nation-state has complete control over its territory, borders, and people, and any interference by other nations or international organizations is a violation of its sovereignty. This view asserts that sharing sovereignty would fundamentally weaken a nation-state's control over its affairs and put it at risk of external interference.

However, there are other perspectives that challenge this traditional view and argue that sovereignty can, in fact, be shared. One such perspective is the idea of pooled sovereignty. Pooled sovereignty refers to a system in which nations voluntarily pool their sovereignty in certain areas while retaining their control over other areas. For example, the European Union is a prime example of pooled sovereignty, as EU member states share their sovereignty in areas such as trade, security, and human rights while retaining their individual sovereignty over other areas. In this way, nations can benefit from cooperating and collaborating with each other while still maintaining a degree of control over their own affairs.

Another perspective is that of shared sovereignty, which advocates for nations to share their sovereignty more broadly. Shared sovereignty suggests that certain areas of policy-making, such as climate change, human rights, and peacekeeping, are better addressed through coordinated and collaborative efforts by multiple nations or international organizations. Shared sovereignty acknowledges that some of the most pressing global challenges are too big for any one nation to solve alone and require collective action.

Finally, it is important to consider the reality of global interdependence in the modern world. In the digital age, national boundaries are becoming increasingly porous, and issues such as climate change, terrorism, and pandemics are transnational in nature. In this context, it is challenging, if not impossible, for any one nation to fully control its destiny without engaging with other nations and international organizations. Therefore, whether we like it or not, sovereignty is already being shared in many ways, and the question is not whether it can be shared, but how it should be shared and to what extent.

In conclusion, the idea of sovereignty as an all-or-nothing concept is becoming outdated as the world becomes more interconnected and interdependent. There is a growing recognition that some areas of policy-making require coordinated and collective action, and that sharing sovereignty, whether through pooled or shared sovereignty, can be beneficial for nations and for the world as a whole. However, the question of how to balance national control with international cooperation remains a complex and ongoing debate.