Derived from the Latin term “superanus”, meaning “chief”, or “principal”, sovereignty is a key aspect of states and describes supreme legitimate authority over a territory.
Sovereignty involves a local aspect, whereby the state must be able to legitimately provide law and order in a society via its monopoly over the use of force. It also entails international recognition and respect by foreign governments of the state’s sovereignty.
Sovereignty was formally recognized as a principle of international law following the Peace of Westphalia treaties, signed in 1648 to end the Thirty Years’ War in Europe. It has since been enshrined in the UN Charter and is now a key norm in state relations.
Internal sovereignty denotes the relationship between a sovereign and the community it governs. Legitimacy is a core feature. By what right does a government exercise authority? Claims of legitimacy might refer to the divine right of kings, or to popular sovereignty granted by a social contract.
According to the preamble of the Lebanese constitution, “the people are the source of authority and sovereignty; they shall exercise these powers through the constitutional institutions”. Without the legitimacy provided by the people to the Parliament, the Lebanese government can be said to “lack strong internal sovereignty”.
The violation of this principle by a government can hold wide-reaching consequences as it legitimizes civil disobedience tools in order to recuperate the lost popular sovereignty.
Despite becoming a key de jure feature of international and constitutional law, many states lack the de facto ability to enforce their sovereignty.
Strong states, with military, financial, technical resources and soft power, enjoy the best chances of preserving their sovereignty.
On the other hand, weak states become vulnerable to losing their sovereignty over time due to internal insurgencies or foreign influences.
The possession of a strong military-security apparatus, a healthy treasury, a stable, respected social contract, and being equipped with the right engines of productivity can be considered the foundations of all strong states.