Survival of State Sovereignty

Brett Kendrick

September 12, 2002

World Politics 103

Will State Sovereignty Survive Globalism?

Stephen Krasner presents the first side of the argument stating that the sovereign state is not dead, nor is it going to be. He says that stronger nations, such as the United States, have not been immune to foreign influence because they remain strong in their beliefs (as in the case of the Euro, which was denied by the U. K.). The weak states are also attracted to sovereignty. This is for the reason that it provides state recognition, which in turn guarantees its membership to international organizations and helpful financing. He also agrees with Thomas Hobbes’ firm belief that giving the sovereign a great deal of power provokes tyranny, but it provides order amongst the people, which is most important in a governmental society. Krasner interprets the phrase “death of sovereignty” as the growing inability of a state to control the flow of materials, both tangible ...