Citizen Sovereignty in Polycentric World

• In Event: Rethinking Rights and Responsibilities in a Complex, Polycentric World

Abstract

Threats to democracy and sovereignty present a renewed challenge in sustaining freedoms of individuals and sovereignty of states in polycentric world. This paper analyzes how 2021 military coup in Myanmar, ongoing Russian war against Ukraine, and the January 6 Capitol insurrection in the United States pose a question about the fate of sovereignty and democracy in world politics. What does contentious relationship between democracy and sovereignty explain the balance of individual freedom and collective freedom? What lessons can we learn from threats to democracy in Myanmar and January 6 insurrection in the United States? How does military coup against the will of people in Myanmar weaken foundation of state sovereignty? What does Russian invasion of Ukraine explain challenges of sustaining sovereignty in statecentric world? These questions guide my analysis of threats to sovereignty and democracy in this paper. The paper argues that theory of citizen sovereignty has more explanatory power to mediate the contentious relationship between democracy and state sovereignty, as well as the struggle between democracy and autocracy in world politics.

Author

• Tun Myint, Carleton College