Key Concepts

Sovereignty

Robert Jackson

Overview

Sovereignty is at the very centre of the political and legal arrangements of the modern world. The idea originated in the controversies and wars, both religious and political, of 16th- and 17th-century Europe and since that time it has continued to spread and evolve. Today sovereignty is a global system of authority: it extends across all religions, civilizations, languages, cultures, ethnic and racial groupings, and other collectivities into which humanity is divided.

In this highly accessible book, Robert Jackson provides a concise and comprehensive introduction to the history and meaning of sovereignty. Drawing on a wide range of examples – from the US Declaration of Independence to terrorist attacks of 9/11 – he shows how sovereignty operates in our daily lives and analyses the issues raised by its universality and centrality in the organization of the world. The book covers core topics such as the discourse of sovereignty, the global expansion of sovereignty, the rise of popular sovereignty, and the relationship between sovereignty and human rights. It concludes by examining future challenges facing sovereignty in an era of globalization.

This interdisciplinary study will be of interest to a wide range of students, academics and general readers who seek to understand this fundamental concept of the modern world.

About the Author

Robert Jackson is Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Boston University.

Table of Contents

  • Preface
  • Chapter 1 Sovereignty and Modernity
  • Chapter 2 'A Shocking Idea'
  • Chapter 3 Sovereigns of Europe and the World
  • Chapter 4 Popular Sovereignty
  • Chapter 5 Sovereignty and Humanity
  • Chapter 6 Sovereignty and Globalization

Endorsements

“Sovereignty is the great survivor amongst modern political concepts. Its death has often been foretold. Yet it persists. In this penetrating and elegantly written book Robert Jackson explains why. It will be indispensable reading for all students of politics and international relations.”

— James Mayall, Centre of International Studies, Cambridge

“Historically grounded and philosophically rich, Jackson's examination of sovereignty will take a deserved place among the primary works on this foundational concept of international politics. In illustrating how the practices and institutions of sovereignty retain their vitality, he also demonstrates the freshness and cogency of his own thought.”

— David Clinton, Professor of Political Science, Baylor University

Sovereignty is a systematic survey of the history of an idea. It accomplishes the ambitious task of untangling the often conflated concepts of authority, supremacy, independence and power from sovereignty. As such, it is a must-have for researchers and teachers concerned with understanding the development of independent, sovereign states.”

— David A. Armstrong, Nuffield College, Oxford

Available titles

Sort by author | title

  1. Barbara Adam, Time
  2. Alan Aldridge, Consumption
  3. Alan Aldridge, The Market
  4. Jakob Arnoldi, Risk
  5. Colin Barnes and Geof Mercer, Disability
  6. Darin Barney, Network Society
  7. Mildred Blaxter, Health 2nd edition
  8. Harriet Bradley, Gender
  9. Harry Brighouse, Justice
  10. Mónica Brito Vieira and David Runciman, Representation
  11. Steve Bruce, Fundamentalism 2nd Edition
  12. Busfield, Mental Illness
  13. Margaret Canovan, The People
  14. Alejandro Colás, Empire
  15. Mary Daly, Welfare
  16. Anthony Elliott, Concepts of the Self 2nd Edition
  17. Steve Fenton, Ethnicity 2nd edition
  18. Katrin Flikschuh, Freedom
  19. Michael Freeman, Human Rights 2nd Edition
  20. Russell Hardin, Trust
  21. Geoffrey Ingham, Capitalism
  22. Fred Inglis, Culture
  23. Robert Jackson, Sovereignty
  24. Jennifer Jackson Preece, Minority Rights
  25. Gill Jones, Youth
  26. Paul Kelly, Liberalism
  27. Anne Mette Kjær, Governance
  28. Ruth Lister, Poverty
  29. Jon Mandle, Global Justice
  30. Anthony Payne and Nicola Phillips, Development
  31. Judith Phillips, Care
  32. Michael Saward, Democracy
  33. John Scott, Power
  34. Timothy Sinclair, Global Governance
  35. Anthony D. Smith, Nationalism 2nd Edition
  36. Deborah Stevenson, The City
  37. Stuart White, Equality
  38. Steven Vallas , Work
  1. Capitalism, Geoffrey Ingham
  2. Care, Judith Phillips
  3. Concepts of the Self 2nd Edition, Anthony Elliott
  4. Consumption, Alan Aldridge
  5. Culture, Fred Inglis
  6. Democracy, Michael Saward
  7. Development, Anthony Payne and Nicola Phillips
  8. Disability, Colin Barnes and Geof Mercer
  9. Empire, Alejandro Colás
  10. Welfare, Mary Daly
  11. Equality, Stuart White
  12. Ethnicity 2nd Edition, Steve Fenton
  13. Freedom, Katrin Flikschuh
  14. Fundamentalism 2nd Edition, Steve Bruce
  15. Gender 2nd Edition, Harriet Bradley
  16. Global Justice, Jon Mandle
  17. Global Governance, Timothy Sinclair
  18. Governance, Anne Mette Kjær
  19. Health 2nd Edition, Mildred Blaxter
  20. Human Rights, Michael Freeman
  21. Justice, Harry Brighouse
  22. Representation, Mónica Brito Vieira and David Runciman
  23. Liberalism, Paul Kelly
  24. The Market, Alan Aldridge
  25. Mental Ilness, Joan Busfield
  26. Minority Rights, Jennifer Jackson Preece
  27. Nationalism, Anthony D. Smith
  28. Network Society, Darin Barney
  29. The City, Deborah Stevenson
  30. The People, Margaret Canovan
  31. Poverty, Ruth Lister
  32. Power, John Scott
  33. Risk, Jakob Arnold
  34. Time, Barbara Adam
  35. Trust, Russell Hardin
  36. Work, Steven Vallas
  37. Youth, Gill Jones

 

Forthcoming titles

  1. Richard Bellamy, Constitutionalism
  2. Garrett Wallace Brown, Cosmopolitanism
  3. Craig Calhoun, Community
  4. Ben Colburn, Autonomy
  5. Keith Dowding, Rational Choice
  6. John Gearson, Terrorism
  7. James Gow, War
  8. Bob Jessop, The State
  9. Keith Krause, Security
  10. Chandran Kukathas, Multiculturalism
  11. Barbara Marshall, Sexuality
  12. Cillian McBride, Recognition
  13. Christopher Phillipson, Ageing
  14. Lord Raymond Plant, Citizenship
  15. Hilary Silver, Social Exclusion
  16. Leslie Thiele, Sustainability