The Changing State

Abstract

Sovereignty is one of the defining elements of statehood (Grewe 2000: 166–7). It renders the state operational — both domestically and internationally. Domestically, the state holds the monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force and is legitimized and supported by the people (Weber 1978a: 56; Held et al. 2003: 45). Internationally, sovereignty determines the state’s capability to participate in international affairs and to create and be subject to international law (Oeter 2002: 283; Morgenthau 1973: 309). In fact, modern international law rests on the concept of the sovereignty of states (Kimminich 1976: 97; Bleckmann 1995: 89ff.).