describe sovereignty

Sovereignty refers to the authority and power of a governing body or state to exercise control, make decisions, and enforce laws within its own territory without interference from external entities. It is the ultimate political and legal authority that allows a government to have absolute control over its own affairs and to be recognized as an independent and autonomous entity by other nations.

Sovereignty is typically associated with the concept of territorial integrity, which means that a state has the exclusive right to govern and exercise control over its own territory. This includes the ability to make and enforce laws, collect taxes, maintain a standing army, establish diplomatic relations with other states, and carry out other functions of governance.

There are different forms of sovereignty, including internal sovereignty, which refers to a government's ability to govern within its territory without interference from domestic actors, and external sovereignty, which relates to a government's recognition and independence by other states.

However, sovereignty is not absolute and can be limited by various factors, such as international agreements, treaties, or the influence of supranational organizations like the United Nations or the European Union. Additionally, there are also debates and challenges to sovereignty in the context of globalization, where economic, social, and environmental issues may require a more collaborative and collective approach to governance.