sovraniteti

Sovraniteti, or sovereignty, denotes the full right and power of a political community to govern itself and to exercise supreme authority within its territory, without external interference. In Albanian discourse, sovraniteti commonly emphasizes national independence, territorial integrity, and the ability to determine political and economic paths.

Sovereignty is usually described in two main dimensions: internal and external. Internal sovereignty refers to the state's monopoly on legitimate lawmaking, enforcement, and administration within its borders. External sovereignty concerns the recognition of a state as a sovereign actor by other states and its capacity to enter international agreements as an independent entity. Popular sovereignty highlights that political authority ultimately rests with the people.

Historically, sovereignty was shaped by theorists such as Bodin and Hobbes and reaffirmed by the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, which emphasized territorial integrity and non-interference. Modern practice, however, recognizes that sovereignty is not absolute; international law, supranational organizations, human rights norms, and economic interdependence can constrain it, while recognition and legitimacy among other states remain crucial.

Different forms and complexities of sovereignty include de jure versus de facto sovereignty, and national versus state sovereignty. Self-determination movements, decolonization, and secession debates challenge simple classifications. Concepts such as suzerainty, subsidiarity, and cyber sovereignty illustrate evolving meanings as technology and globalization reshape authority and governance.

In contemporary international relations, sovereignty remains a central but contested concept. Criteria for statehood, such as those articulated in the Montevideo Convention, interact with ongoing discussions about recognition, legitimacy, and the balance between national autonomy and global cooperation.