The Sociology of Sovereignty
Politics, Social Transformations and Conceptual Change
Author: Terje Rasmussen
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.
Hardcover
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Summary
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.
Description
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.
Critic Reviews
'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
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