The Sociology of Sovereignty - by Terje Rasmussen (Paperback)

About the Book

The book examines the intellectual history of the concept of sovereignty and argues that its essential value lies in its historical role as a political instrument to handle paradoxes of power.

Book Synopsis

The book examines the intellectual history of the concept of sovereignty from a sociological perspective. Informed by the sociologists Max Weber and Niklas Luhmann, it addresses the concept as the centre of constitutional controversy and as a resource to deal with paradoxes of power in constitutional democracies. It discusses the dilemmas of sovereignty that appear in the wake of the emphasis on political representation, human rights and European integration. The book marks a significant contribution to the scholarly debate on the foundation of constitutional democracy.

From the Back Cover

Examining sovereignty as a fundamental and contested concept at the heart of European politic since early modern times, this book addresses the concept of sovereignty as a sociological topic.

The history of sovereignty tells a tale of absolute power, and over the years has referred to God, the King, the people, the nation and the state. It has constantly been at the centre of controversy, revolution and war. Just as central here, in its various versions it has served as a response to incessant paradoxes of power. With a focus on the sociology of Max Weber and Niklas Luhmann, The sociology of sovereignty addresses intellectual understandings of the concept since early modernity, and examines dilemmas of sovereignty in the wake of state expansion, human rights and federalism.

A core presumption of the book is the independence of popular sovereignty from political, military and federalist manoeuvres in European states. The book also addresses the argument that sovereignty is a semantic formula, designed to settle unavoidable paradoxes of democracy and power. The sociology of sovereignty makes a significant contribution to the scholarly debate on constitutional democracy and its dilemmas.

Review Quotes

'Rasmussen's approach is useful, as it sheds light on the process through which sovereignty became what it is now, instead of sticking to its static legal understanding. The author situates sovereignty within the broader frameworks of social theory, making the book relevant to scholars of both political theory and sociology. Moreover, the book provides a thorough historical account of sovereignty that helps readers grasp the concept's evolution. Lastly, Rasmussen's exploration of the tensions between national sovereignty and human rights agenda and supranational governance is timely and relevant. His discussion of the complexities in reconciling sovereignty with the consequences of globalization offers valuable insights for understanding current political dynamics.'
Aleksandra Spalinska, International Relations

About the Author

Terje Rasmussen is a sociologist and Professor of Media Studies at the University of Oslo