The Case for Semi-Sovereign Participation in International Relations

Abstract

International relations theory holds that the ability to participate in international relations is one of the fundamental abilities of a state, with several schools of thought in international relations, such as realism, using the state as the starting point for their theories. However, as there are semi-sovereign entities that participate in international organizations, rather than view these entities as exceptions, an examination of the role of these entities from the perspectives of both international relations theory and legal theory supports broader normalization for their continued participation. As states of widely different capacity co-exist within a decentralized international social order, the inclusion of entities with deferred sovereignty would not be inconsistent with current practice. Rather than viewing sovereignty solely as a question of territorial integrity, or the authority of a state over its geographic domain, this thesis considers sovereignty as a spectrum. This approach allows for a more nuanced understanding of the potential powers of political entities, notably the capacity to enter into treaties or relations with states and other entities. Recognizing the capacity of non-state entities to enter into treaty relations explains the participation of semi-sovereign entities in international organizations today and points to new ways of addressing contemporary global issues. Although states are nominally equal under international law, international relations scholars use the term hierarchy to describe a system where political, economic, and social status among actors is highly differentiated even as they retain a degree of formal sovereign equality. This thesis also questions the notion that states should be assumed to be considered legally equal and the role of sovereign equality as a foundational principle of the international legal order. Viewing sovereignty as a spectrum would allow for greater participation of semi-sovereign entities in international institutions without affecting the status quo. Consequently, the participation of semi-sovereign entities in international relations, including membership in international organizations, should be normalized.