KNOWLEDGE – International Journal Vol. 45.5 STATE SOVEREIGNITY IN INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Aneta Stojanovska-Stefanova Goce Delcev University – Stip, N. Macedonia, aneta.stojanovska@ugd.edu.mk, Hristina Runcheva Tasev Ss. Cyril and Methodius University -Skopje, N. Macedonia, h.runchevatasev@pf.ukim.edu.mk Marija Magdinceva-Sopova Goce Delcev University - Stip, N. Macedonia, marija.magdinceva@ugd.edu.mk, Abstract: The aim is to present the significance of state sovereignty trough a theoretical overview and analysis of the important concept in the realm of political theory - the notion of sovereignty. Also the paper will seek to create a comprehensive but easily understandable definition of sovereignty and its importance in international relations, especially in recognition of states. In this respect, the paper will clarify the concept of sovereignty, taking into consideration the transformations and challenges of the international security environment at the beginning of the 21st century. The paper presents the issue of state sovereignty in the field of international relations, where states, although theoretically equal among themselves, are hierarchically ranked according to their national performances which are eventually converted into power at the international level. It is analyzed, based on exploring the existing literature in the area of interest and with the help of direct observation, how the independent and sovereign states are able to integrate themselves into the international political context. Keywords: states; international politics; international law; foreign affairs. 1. INTRODUCTION The state, in its full meaning is established after the three-year war in Europe and signing of the Westphalia Peace Treaty in 1948 that put the end of it. Since that date onwards, the creation and further development of the state has begun, as a whole that has the following characteristics: (a) constant population; (b) defined territory; (c) authority and (d) ability to establish relations with other countries. The rules that regulate the relations between citizens established with this kind of system, i.e. their rights and obligations towards the country were determined. Different forms of organization of the state authority are established depending on the historic tradition, realities in life, political events and general tendencies in that area. For every democratic country it is equally important to regulate and develop its national and international relations. The basic sources of international relations are the compulsory norms of the international law (Jus Cogens) and the legal principles recognized by the civilized nations. With help of the compulsory norms of the international public law and the legal principles recognized by the civilized nations, the international relations of the countries become legal relations or values which are developed with the help of the law. In that context, the law appears as a factor for civilized development of the international relations. But according to the Montevideo Convention (1933), which had put the state in relation to the international law, besides these three elements there is a fourth one needed to be taken into consideration – that is the “capacity to enter into relations with the other states” (The Montevideo Convention, article 1). Thus, the statehood issue is closely connected with the idea of recognition meaning that, in order to become integrated at the international level as a legal standing entity characterized thru rights and obligations, a state should be granted by the international community with its confidence that the factual criteria of statehood have been fulfilled indeed (Dinicu A, 2018). 2. HISTORY AND OPINIONS OF THE SOVEREIGNITY The landmarks of a modern state as we know today are defined by the Westphalia Peace Treaty 23 according to which the state is constituted by three main characteristics: territory, population and sovereignty, i.e. absolute power of rule24. In order to understand the process of recognition better and the different specification which appeared throughout the history, we will first pay attention on the terms sovereignty and statehood, what sovereignty means and how one state acquires it, and later the manners through which the countries recognize the existence of another country. (Stojanovska-Stefanova at all, 2017) 23
Peace of Westphalia, Encyclopedia Britannica (www.britannica.com), accessed on June 1, 2016. The Crisis of the Sovereign State and the "Privatization" of Defense and Foreign Affairs, Heritage Foundation, (www.heritage.org), accessed on June 1, 2016. 24
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