(No AI was used in writing this article)
Based on what we have been observing recently around the world, and in our own nation, it is obvious that the concept of “national sovereignty” is under attack and has been for a while. Except to say that we can see it happening, in this short article I’m not going to attempt to describe some vast globalist conspiracy of elites behind these attacks, though it may well exist. Instead, I’m going to concentrate on what the concept of “sovereignty” is, and why I believe it is important and should be supported, especially for the United States.
The word “sovereignty” derives from the Latin word “superanus” which means “supreme” or “above”. Perhaps the primary source for the modern concept of “national sovereignty” are the writings of a French political philosopher named Jean Bodin. In 1576, in the midst of the religious civil wars wracking France in the wake of the Reformation, he wrote his treatise “Six Books of the Commonwealth” in which he advocates for a national authority in France capable of enforcing laws and quelling the disturbances rupturing his country—in short, a nationally recognized seat of authority charged with making and enforcing the laws of the nation. Out of this grew the concept of the “sovereign state” and ultimately the “nation-state” as the building block of the international order. Thus, a nation-state may be defined as a political unit that is sovereign within its boundaries, in other words, a centralized government with defined borders, able to make and enforce the laws within its zone. Now, I’m no expert on political philosophy, but from what I’ve learned I think the above is fairly accurate.
What is understood as “international law”, which simply put is the body of rules and customs regulating the behavior of sovereign nation-states vis-à-vis each other, recognizes this concept of sovereignty. It is the definitive element of international relations. Without it, and without a recognition by one nation of the sovereignty of another nation, international relations descend into chaos, as do the situations within nations, which is what we see happening. This is not a good scene for any nation, but I believe it is especially important for the United States as a nation to retain its sovereignty and not succumb to the encroaching destructive forces assaulting it. My prime reason for this is that the United States, for all its faults, still is the best hope this world has for the preservation of the human rights that form the core ideals of Western Civilization. I say this in full recognition of the fact that if any nation since World War II has violated the sovereignty of other nations, it is our nation, the United States. During the Cold War, using the justification of anti-communism, our CIA ran roughshod over the nations of Europe, Asia, and Africa using the mechanism of plausibly deniable covert operations, including regime change and assassinations. In all likelihood this is continuing today, and is being matched by countries like China and Russia. Understanding this, perhaps it’s a matter of karma that today we find our own sovereignty at risk and under attack.
Nevertheless, if we are to ever bring about a world of peace and freedom we must maintain and live up to our ideals as embodied in the Constitution and Bill of Rights. If we lose those we have no chance, and so maintaining our nation’s sovereignty I think is critically important.
About the Author:
Mark Arnold is an American writer/blogger, sports fan, humanitarian and human rights activist. A lifelong resident of Seattle, Washington, he has devoted his whole adult life to helping others and improving conditions. He invites communication from readers and can be reached by e-mail at mark@fromanativeson.com
