Dieter Grimm's accessible introduction to the concept of sovereignty ties the evolution of the idea to historical events, from the religious conflicts of sixteenth-century Europe to today's trends in globalization and transnational institutions. Grimm wonders whether recent political changes have undermined notions of national sovereignty, comparing manifestations of the concept in different parts of the world. Geared for classroom use, the study maps various notions of sovereignty in relation to the people, the nation, the state, and the federation, distinguishing between internal and external types of sovereignty. Grimm's book will appeal to political theorists and cultural-studies scholars and to readers interested in the role of charisma, power, originality, and individuality in political rule.
- Table of Contents
- Series Editor’s Foreword
- Preface and Acknowledgments
- A. Sovereignty in a Time of Changing Statehood
- B. Development and Function of the Concept of Sovereignty
- 1. Bodin’s Significance for the Concept of Sovereignty
- 2. Sovereignty in the Constitutional State
- 3. External Sovereignty
- C. Sovereignty Today
- Notes
- Index