THE SOVERIGN STATE AND ITS FUTURE

In: International journal / Canadian Institute of International Affairs, Band 39, Heft 2, S. 284-301

Abstract

THE SOVEREIGN STATE1 HAS SHOWN GREAT VITALITY IN THE PAST QUARTER OF A CENTURY. IN SPITE OF GLOOMY FOREBODINGS DURING WORLD WAR II,2 AND OCCASIONAL DOUBTS ABOUT WHETHER THERE CAN POSSIBLY BE A CONTINUANCE OF THE CREATION OF NEW STATES, THE NUMBER OF THOSE ADMITTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS HAS ALMOST DOUBLED SINCE 1959 WHEN THERE WERE 82 MEMBERS. AFRICA, THE PACIFIC ISLANDS, AND THE CARIBBEAN HAVE CONTRIBUTED MOST OF THESE NEW ENTITIES, ALL OF THEM CARVED OUT OF FORMER EMPIRES, BUT USUALLY RETAINING THE BOUNDARIES DRAWN BY THEIR FORMER COLONIAL MASTERS. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT THAT THE LEADERS OF INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENTS IN ALL CONTINENTS HAVE SOUGHT TO ESTABLISH SOVEREIGN STATES RATHER THAN SOME OTHER SORT OF POLITICAL FORM.