#humans Created at 2023-01-24 # [Anonymous feedback](https://www.admonymous.co/louis030195) # [[Epistemic status]] #shower-thought Last modified date: 2023-01-24 Commit: 0 # Related - [[Philosophy/Humans/Politic/Aristocracy]] - [[Readwise/Articles/en.wikipedia.org - Power (Social and Political) - Wikipedia]] - [[Philosophy/Humans/Legitimacy]] - [[Philosophy/Epistemology/Authority based identity]] - [[Philosophy/Humans/Hereditary principle]] - [[Philosophy/Humans/Power]] # TODO > [!TODO] TODO # Sovereignty  From an historical point of view, the origin of sovereignty can be traced back to the medieval period in Europe. During this period, monarchs were considered to be the ultimate source of authority and their power was considered to be absolute. This concept of the absolute power of a monarch was known as the Divine Right of Kings and it was believed that God had granted the monarchs their power. This concept of sovereignty was further developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, as the power of the monarchs became more entrenched and the idea that they held supreme authority became more accepted. As the European nations began to form complex societies, the concept of sovereignty also evolved to encompass the idea of a nation state, with a government that held the ultimate authority within its borders.  In the modern age, the concept of sovereignty has evolved even further, as international organizations and treaties have created a global system of law and governance. The concept of sovereignty still applies to nation states, but it is also used to describe the authority and autonomy that individuals or organizations have within their own sphere of influence. For example, a company may be considered to have a degree of sovereignty over its customers, or a political party may be considered to have a degree of sovereignty over its members. In each of these cases, the entity in question is seen as having the ultimate authority and autonomy within its own sphere of influence. A chess master has sovereignty over the game, as they are the ultimate authority and can make any move they choose. Similarly, a nation state is the ultimate authority within its borders and can make decisions as it pleases. [[Legitimacy]] relates by offering the chance for people to accept the actions of their government, by ensuring the actions are fair and just. It is closely related to sovereignty, as a government must be seen to be legitimate for its sovereignty to be respected by its citizens. In other words, a [[Consensus|consensus]] must be reached between the people, the government and other entities in order for the sovereignty of the nation state to be respected. This means that the government must listen to the people, consider their opinions and come to an agreement that is seen as legitimate. This consensus is what allows a government to exercise its sovereignty effectively.