ABSTRACT Can international organizations (IOs) possess sovereignty like modern states? How can IOs obtain sovereignty? Can IOs supersede states as dominant political structures in the world system? Studies on conflicts of sovereignty in Europe conclude that the European Union lacks sovereign status and cannot supplant European states as the dominant structure for political organization. Neorealist scholars note that European sovereignty practice is already changing the institution and rules of state sovereignty, theorizing that IOs can gain sovereign status through formal agreements among modern states and ultimately may even succeed sovereign states. I study the emerging African sovereignty tradition. I employ constructivism and studies on IO authority and legitimacy, international state, and the third image of structure to develop an alternative theory: IOs can attain sovereign status when states constituting minor IOs, like the African Union (AU), claim sovereignty amidst legitimation crises in dominant IOs, such as the UN. I test the theory with the legitimation crisis in the UN Security Council. Original documentary data on UN‐AU relations show a sovereignty claim by the AU, demonstrating changes in moments of legitimation crises due to noncompliance with IO legitimation rules of inclusive representation and/or the alignment of values, norms, priorities, interests, or goals.
Obinna Ifediora (Thu,) studied this question.