Sovereignty and Difference

I would definitely agree that sovereignty protects difference, but only under extreme conditions. Sovereignty is usually referred to as a state's power to act autonomously within its own territory, and under such definition, difference would be protected. However, from observation of the current global condition, we see differences being eliminated by the process of globalization, and people around the globe are becoming more similar to each other despite living in different sovereign countries. This is a definite proof that sovereignty may not protect difference, but I must say that the definition of sovereignty must be clearly delineated.

I believe that if a state is absolutely sovereign, meaning no outside interference within its own borders and everything is domestic with no sovereignty infringement, then the difference would be protect. I believe that such absolute sovereignty would develop a sense of identity among people living under the same sovereign condition because they share a common background. This sense of identity, which can also be referred to, but not most accurately, as "national identity" would preserve the differences on a global stage. However, absolute sovereignty is something that is nonexistent in the global order.

Current global order is more about limited sovereignty in my opinion; states hold sovereign and autonomous power over key parts of the country, but it is not absolutely sovereign. Foreign companies come in and meddle in economics, and foreign diplomatic relations force states to sometimes act in a way no absolute sovereign country would act. This limited sovereignty that allows certain outside influence naturally leads to globalization as people around the globe share certain aspects of life, which kind of forms an identity and a connection wordwide.

To summarize, there is a difference between absolute and limited sovereignty and the degree to which they protect difference. However, I must also point out that absolute sovereignty would only be possible ideologically, because the inter-connectedness of the current world. What this leads to, is the fact that certain amount of difference is preserved under the limited sovereignty all countries hold, but some of their differences would be eliminated.