Sovereignty is the full right and power of a country or ruler to govern itself, without being controlled by another. It is a key idea in politics and international law.
From Old French *souveraineté*, from *souverain* “sovereign,” ultimately from Latin *superanus* “above.” The English spelling picked up the same confusing *-eign-* as *sovereign*.
Sovereignty is like a country’s version of personal independence: the right to make your own big decisions. Modern debates about borders, wars, and even the internet often come down to who really has sovereignty over what.
The discourse on sovereignty developed within male-dominated legal and political institutions, which often excluded women from formal power and citizenship. This led to theories of sovereignty that assumed male rulers and male political subjects as the norm.
Discuss sovereignty in ways that recognize the political agency of all genders, and avoid language that equates political authority or nationhood with male leadership by default.
When covering the history of sovereignty, acknowledge women who shaped state formation, diplomacy, and anti-colonial movements, even when they were not formally recognized as sovereigns.
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