States, Non-States, and Supra-States:
Who’s Sovereign Now?
Editor’s Note ~ Volume 10 / Spring 2007
Dear Readers,
No longer confined to its Westphalian origins, the concept of sovereignty continues to become increasingly nebulous in our globalizing world. Today, corporations span the globe and exert greater influence than many developing countries, supranational bodies enjoy substantial clout and new actors are shouldering the responsibilities of power—or seizing it by force. Who dominates in this new international system? Is it the nation, a supranational entity or other non-state units? Does sovereignty require complete exercise of authority, or the maintenance of certain values? In an era of challenges to nation-state primacy, who is sovereign now?
The tenth-anniversary edition of the Bologna Center Journal of International Affairs brings together articles that ask these questions, posit some answers and further the debate on the role of sovereignty in a changing international system.
The collection begins with three articles that challenge traditional definitions and present a comprehensive theoretical analysis of the changing role of sovereignty today. Subsequent articles consider questions and applications of sovereignty in concrete, illustrative case studies. These articles consider such wide-ranging topics as the supranational power of the European Parliament, the influence of NAFTA on democratization and economic development, the debate over humanitarian intervention and imposed state-building, the impact of fourth-party intervention in civil disputes and the increasing international visibility of autonomous regions within sovereign states. This diversity of topics reflects the multifaceted character of sovereignty and contributes to the debate about what has changed, why change has occurred and why this change is important.
In addition to the articles pertaining to this year’s theme, the Journal is also proud to include thought-provoking articles on the application of the democratization peace process in Columbia and Peru, energy nationalization in Brazil and the rise of Hizbullah and its place within Lebanon’s political sphere.
Celebrating a decade in print, the Bologna Center Journal represents a vehicle for creativity and scholarship within the walls of the SAIS Bologna Center. The publication continues to be student-sponsored and produced, and it is with great pleasure that the Journal staff offers, again this year, a financial scholarship to an incoming student, thanks to the generosity of our classmates and teachers. It is our hope that this young tradition continues to mature in the decades to come.
Enjoy reading!
Sarah Underwood
Editor-in-Chief
