The Nature of Sovereignty in Retrospect to the Era of Globalisation

This paper analyses the evolution of sovereignty and its transformation in the era of globalisation. Traditionally understood as the supreme and absolute authority of the state, sovereignty formed the foundation of modern political theory through the works of Jean Bodin, Thomas Hobbes, and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Over time, this absolutist conception was challenged by pluralist thinkers such as Harold J. Laski, who emphasized the diffusion of authority across social institutions. The paper argues that 20th-century developments, including the Second World War and the rise of international organisations, imposed significant limitations on state sovereignty. In the contemporary period, globalisation—through economic integration, technological change, and transnational governance—has further eroded the autonomy of nation-states, particularly in the Global South. The study concludes that sovereignty persists but in a redefined, constrained, and increasingly interdependent form, necessitating its critical reassessment in modern political discourse.