In the course of human history, the myth surrounding ‘state sovereignty’ has been exposed. This conclusion is only natural since the dominant discourse on state sovereignty emerged around an exclusive and narrow understanding of humanity. Evidently, the existence of state has been projected as the only political institution of sovereignty at the expense of people’s aspirations. It is no wonder that and the show of force exercised by State to establish its legitimacy is a contradiction, which belies its moral relevance and political legitimacy.
Through its hegemonizing and homogenizing characteristics, the State has ensured that the response to war and peace is its prerogative. Nonetheless, experience has shown that a State’s priority is its interest to protect what it considers to be its national interest and to compete with other existing States. In essence, the notion of statebuilding is in direct confrontation with a peoples’ aspiration to decide their own future and to live harmoniously. Real politik has ensured that just because a people have rights does not necessarily mean that they enjoy them.
However, the absolutism of state sovereignty which dominated international politics has been critically interrogated by the forces of global events that unfolded since 1991. The idea of State and Territorial Sovereignty no longer remains in an unchallenged position. The idea that sovereignty lies with the people is becoming more real. This idea will be reiterated in September 2014, when the Scottish people exercise their political and democratic rights through an act of referendum to decide their political status as a peoples.
It is essential that humanity goes beyond state sovereignty. This is indispensable for people to be rehumanized which will empower ordinary people to exercise their sovereign powers to become self-determining. For a new world order that respects the equal rights of all peoples to emerge, it is essential to think beyond the existing Westphalian State system, which has dominated the world for the last 366 years. The need for new ideas and thoughts is critical to this process. However, it is unlikely that such new thinking will emerge out of the present dominant knowledge systems.
Struggling people around the world need to proactively initiative critical dialogue that will lead to the birth of new ideas. Clearly, struggling people don’t wish to recreate or carry on with a political order that is violent in nature. Rather, they seek to transcend beyond the existing political order for a more just and peaceful system. It is imperative for new ideas to imagine beyond state sovereignty and explore the possibilities of peoples’ sovereignty.
