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Unit 4

4.9 Challenges to Sovereignty

7 min read•june 18, 2024

Amanda DoAmaral

Riya Patel

AP Human Geography 🚜

320 resources

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Introduction

Sovereignty is the concept that a state has the supreme authority to govern itself and make decisions within its own borders without interference from other states or international organizations. However, there are a number of challenges that can undermine the sovereignty of a state:

Foreign intervention: The intervention of other states or international organizations in the domestic affairs of a state can challenge its sovereignty. This can include military intervention, economic sanctions, or diplomatic pressure.

Example: The 2003 invasion of Iraq by the United States and its allies challenged the sovereignty of the Iraqi state, as it was a military intervention in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state without the approval of the United Nations.

Internal conflict: Civil wars, revolutions, and other forms of internal conflict can challenge the sovereignty of a state by undermining the government's ability to maintain control and exercise authority within its own borders.

Example: The ongoing conflict in Syria, which began in 2011 as an uprising against the government, has challenged the sovereignty of the Syrian state, as various factions have fought for control of territory and resources.

Regional integration: The process of regional integration, in which states come together to form supranational organizations or cede some of their sovereignty to a regional governing body, can challenge the sovereignty of individual states.

Example: The creation of the European Union, in which member states ceded some of their sovereignty to a supranational governing body, has challenged the sovereignty of individual European states.

Globalization: The increasing interconnectedness of the global economy and the spread of transnational organizations can challenge the sovereignty of states by limiting their ability to control economic and social processes within their own borders.

Example: The increasing interconnectedness of the global economy, through trade and the movement of capital, has challenged the sovereignty of states by limiting their ability to control economic processes within their own borders.

Cyber threats: The increasing reliance on digital technology and the rise of cyber threats, such as cyber espionage and cyber warfare, can challenge the sovereignty of states by allowing other actors to gain access to and potentially manipulate a state's critical infrastructure.

Example: The growing threat of cyber attacks, such as the 2017 "WannaCry" ransomware attack, which affected over 200,000 computers in 150 countries, has challenged the sovereignty of states by allowing other actors to gain access to and potentially manipulate critical infrastructure.

Time-Space Compression

Time-space compression is the process by which the distance between two places and the time it takes to travel between them are reduced, making it possible to experience or interact with those places as if they were closer or more connected. Time-space compression can be facilitated by advances in transportation, communication, and information technologies, which make it easier and faster to travel and communicate over long distances.

Time-space compression has significant implications for social, economic, and political processes, as it can change the way people experience and interact with the world around them. For example, it can increase the mobility of people and goods, facilitate the spread of ideas and cultural practices, and create new opportunities for trade and investment. It can also create challenges, such as the erosion of local cultures and the concentration of economic and political power in certain regions or cities.

Time-space compression is a concept that was developed by geographer David Harvey in the 1980s to describe the ways in which advances in transportation and communication technologies were changing the spatial organization of society.

Here are some examples of how time-space compression has occurred and had an impact:

Transportation: The development of faster modes of transportation, such as trains, planes, and automobiles, has made it possible to travel long distances in a shorter amount of time, reducing the physical distance between places. This has facilitated the spread of goods and ideas and made it easier for people to move around and experience different parts of the world.
Communication: The development of the telegraph and later the internet has made it possible to communicate with people in different parts of the world almost instantly, reducing the time it takes to exchange information and ideas. This has facilitated the spread of knowledge and made it easier for people to collaborate and work together across long distances.
Globalization: The increasing interconnectedness of the global economy, through trade and the movement of capital, has facilitated the spread of goods, ideas, and cultural practices around the world. This has contributed to time-space compression by making it easier for people to experience and interact with different parts of the world as if they were closer.
Telecommuting: The rise of telecommuting, or working remotely using technology, has made it possible for people to work from anywhere in the world, reducing the need to physically travel to an office. This has contributed to time-space compression by making it easier for people to experience and interact with different parts of the world as if they were closer.

Important Vocabulary

Sovereignty

Sovereignty is the concept that a state has the supreme authority to govern itself and make decisions within its own borders without interference from other states or international organizations.

Example: The sovereignty of the United States is demonstrated by its ability to make and enforce laws within its own borders and to conduct foreign relations with other states without interference.

Supranationalism

Supranationalism is the idea that states or other political entities should transfer some of their sovereignty to a supranational governing body in order to address common challenges or achieve shared goals.

Example: The European Union is an example of supranationalism, as member states have ceded some of their sovereignty to a supranational governing body in order to achieve shared goals such as the free movement of goods, people, and capital.

Devolution

Devolution is the process by which power is transferred from a central government to regional or local governments within a state. This can involve the transfer of authority over certain policy areas or the creation of autonomous regions within a state.

Example: The devolution of power from the UK government to the governments of Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland is an example of devolution. These regional governments have autonomous powers over certain policy areas such as education, healthcare, and transportation.

Micro-States

Micro-states are small, independent states with a population of less than one million people. They are often characterized by their limited resources and small size, and they may face challenges in terms of economic development and international recognition.

Example: The Republic of Malta is an example of a micro-state, with a population of just under 500,000 people. Other examples of micro-states include Monaco, San Marino, and Liechtenstein.

Self Determination

Self-determination is the principle that people have the right to determine their own political status and pursue their own economic, social, and cultural development. This can involve the right to form a sovereign state or to seek greater autonomy or independence within a state.

Example: The independence movements of Quebec in Canada and Catalonia in Spain are examples of efforts to seek self-determination and greater autonomy or independence within a state.

Functional Region

A functional region is a region that is defined by the interactions and connections between its constituent parts, rather than by fixed geographical boundaries. Functional regions can be based on economic, social, or cultural ties, and they may cross national or state boundaries.

Example: The Boston-Washington corridor in the northeastern United States is an example of a functional region, as it is defined by the economic, cultural, and social connections between the cities and towns along the corridor. This region is home to many major universities, research institutions, and high-tech companies, and it is a hub for innovation and economic growth. The region is connected by a network of highways, airports, and train lines, which facilitate the movement of people, goods, and ideas between the constituent parts of the region. The Boston-Washington corridor is an example of a functional region that crosses state boundaries and includes parts of several different states.

United Nations

The United Nations is an international organization that was founded in 1945 with the goal of promoting international cooperation and resolving conflicts between states. The UN has 193 member states.

Here are some examples of the work that the UN does:

Peacekeeping: The UN maintains a number of peacekeeping missions around the world, in which UN peacekeepers work to prevent and resolve conflicts, protect civilians, and support the transition to peace.
Humanitarian assistance: The UN provides humanitarian assistance to people affected by natural disasters, armed conflicts, and other crises. This includes providing food, shelter, and medical care to those in need.
Development: The UN works to promote economic and social development in countries around the world through initiatives such as the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Environmental protection: The UN promotes the protection of the environment through initiatives such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
Human rights: The UN works to promote and protect human rights around the world through initiatives such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

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