2. What is sovereignty?

Activity 1 - What is sovereignty?

Activity Tasks

Identify - Review the definitions of ‘state’ and ‘sovereignty’ on Slides 2-5 of the Lesson Presentation and make a note of the four key features of a state sovereignty from the Montevideo Convention.
Research - Using this worksheet, examine the four indicators of state sovereignty. Then either pick a country of your choice or one from this list. Research how your country performs in terms of its sovereignty in each of the four indicators. Is its sovereignty challenged or unchallenged in these areas?

Activity Tasks

Construct - Using Slides 5-8 of the Lesson Presentation, make a simple table showing how realism and liberalism views the concept of sovereignty.
Debate - In pairs, discuss the following two questions:
1. “Which is the more ‘dangerous’ theoretical position on sovereignty - Realism or Liberalism?”
2. “Which theoretical position on state sovereignty would: a.) China; and b) European Union, take on state sovereignty?”

Activity Tasks

Examine - Examine and make notes on the four sources of sovereignty on Slides 7-9 of the Lesson Presentation.
Research - Examine the table on this worksheet showing the four core sources of state sovereignty. Either pick a dispute of your choice or choose one from the following list. Research that dispute and make notes on how the four sources of sovereignty may or may not be part of the dispute. Choose between:
1. Kosovo; Crimea/Ukraine; South China Sea; Kashmir (India and Pakistan); Israel and Palestinian Territories; or the Falkland Islands.
Present - Using your research, make a short 2-3 minute presentation on how the four sources of sovereignty are disputed in your case study.