Are there any limits to state sovereignty?

Yes, there are limits to state sovereignty, primarily due to international law, human rights obligations, and globalisation.

State sovereignty, the principle that a state has absolute power and authority within its territorial boundaries, is not absolute. It is limited by international law, which is a set of rules and norms that governs the relations between states. International law is based on treaties, agreements, and conventions that states voluntarily enter into. By signing these treaties, states agree to limit their sovereignty in certain areas. For example, the United Nations Charter, which all UN member states have ratified, prohibits the use of force against other states, except in self-defence or when authorised by the UN Security Council. This is a clear limitation on state sovereignty.

Human rights obligations also limit state sovereignty. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various international human rights treaties establish standards for the treatment of individuals within states. States that violate these standards can be held accountable by the international community. For instance, if a state engages in genocide, other states have a responsibility to intervene to protect the victims, even if this means infrac