Definition of a sovereign state: briefly about the main

It is quite simple to define a sovereign state. In the current international practice, it recognizes a legal entity that has authority over a certain geographical area with a permanent population, as well as having a central government entering into relations with the governments of other countries.

Signs of the State

In international law, meanwhile, there are two contradictory norms, which can often impede the recognition of the state as sovereign.

The principle of inviolability of borders and the right of peoples to self-determine their national destiny enter into contradiction with each other. Thus, it turns out that the emergence and termination of the existence of any state is not only a matter of declaring one's own independence, but also the recognition of other states. This makes it necessary to supplement the definition of a sovereign state with the thesis of declaring its own independence, adopted by its neighbors and international organizations.

There are, however, many examples where the state effectively functions without being recognized by its neighbors. This is the case with the Jewish state. Israel is not recognized by most Arab countries, and Iran uses the wording "the so-called state of Israel" in official documents. But all this does not prevent the Israeli economy from flourishing, education remains one of the best in the world, and its citizens are proud of their own country.

Unrecognized states

Under the definition of a sovereign state, not all countries that proclaimed independence fall. Many such examples can be found on the territory of the former USSR, when as a result of numerous ethnic conflicts and the uncertainty of the status of various territories, states not recognized by the international community began to appear.

This happened with Abkhazia, South Ossetia and the Pridnestrovskaia Moldavskaia Respublika. Despite the fact that all these countries have the territory they control, the population and their own authorities, the overwhelming majority of sovereign states do not recognize their independence. Even Transnistria's own currency does not help achieve international recognition.

Thus, it can be concluded that the economy is not crucial for the recognition of the state held, which means that an independent sovereign state can become successful only through persistent political struggle and diplomatic games.

Governments without States

The Second World War substantially enriched international practice and gave impetus to the emergence of new forms of the existence of the state apparatus. While many countries were occupied by the German army, their governments turned out to be abroad and from there propaganda and struggle for independence. At the same time, they were recognized as perfectly legal, although they had neither a controlled territory nor a population.

It was in this mode that the De Gaulle government functioned, which began the struggle for the liberation of France, being on the other side of the strait. It should be noted that his struggle proved successful, not least thanks to international support, which means that the definition of a sovereign state must inevitably include the mention of international recognition.

International control and self-restraint

The Second World War and the numerous crises that followed it cast doubt on all the principles of international cooperation that existed at that time. Wishing to preserve peace, many governments, under the pressure of their own citizens, began to reconsider the principles of a sovereign state.

It was after the war that supra-state entities began to appear, designed to impose a restriction on the inalienable right of any state - the right to use violence. International treaties have received a higher status than domestic laws, and decisions of international courts have become binding in states that these courts recognize. Here it is worth noting that the participation of states in international agreements is still voluntary.

Thus, states increasingly began to give up part of their sovereignty in the name of peace and prosperity. Some countries even abandon their own army. For example, Nauru is a republic, a sovereign state that does not, however, have its own armed forces. Its security is handled by Australia. Thus, the army is not a prerequisite for the implementation of sovereign international policy.

In the conditions of growing globalization, the growth of the influence of international organizations and supranational entities in the definition of a sovereign state, changes must be made. A sovereign state can be any state whose status is recognized by the international community.