1st Edition

Cosmopolitanism, State Sovereignty and International Law and Politics A Theory

By Jorge E. Núñez Copyright 2024

    This book assesses the relationship between cosmopolitanism and sovereignty. Often considered to be incompatible, it is argued here that the two concepts are in many ways interrelated and to some extent rely on one another. By introducing a novel theory, the work presents a detailed philosophical analysis to illustrate how these notions might theoretically and practically work together. This theoretical inquiry is balanced with detailed empirical discussion highlighting how the concepts are related in practice and to expose the weaknesses of stricter interpretations of sovereignty which present it as exclusionary. Finally, the book looks at territorial disputes to explore how sovereignty and cosmopolitanism can successfully operate together to deal with global issues.

    The work will be of interest to academics and researchers in the areas of Legal Philosophy, Legal Theory and Jurisprudence, Public International Law, International Relations and Political Science.

    Preface xi

    PART ONE

    The situation in law and politics and the new vision 1

    1 Sovereignty and cosmopolitanism: Pluralism of pluralisms and a multidimensional analysis 3

    Introduction 3

    General structure 7

    Chapter 1 Introduction 8

    Chapter 2 Sovereignty 9

    Chapter 3 Cosmopolitanism 9

    Chapter 4 Agents and players 10

    Chapter 5 Contexts and realms 12

    Chapter 6 Dimensions and variables 13

    Chapter 7 Territorial disputes 15

    Chapter 8 Conclusive remarks, limitations and implications 15

    Aims, rationale and objectives 15

    Methodology 17

    The notions of sovereignty and cosmopolitanism in this monograph 18

    The notions of pluralism of pluralisms and multidimensional analysis in this monograph 22

    Choice of examples 25

    Conclusion 25

    Bibliography 27

    2 Sovereignty 29

    Introduction 29

    Sovereignty 33

    Normative and factual sovereignty 38

    Factual sovereignty or de facto sovereignty 40

    Normative sovereignty or de jure sovereignty 41

    Limitations to factual and normative sovereignty 42

    The axiological choice: value sovereignty 43

    Conclusion 47

    Bibliography 49

    3 Cosmopolitanism 52

    Introduction 52

    Cosmopolitanism 54

    Kinds of cosmopolitanism 57

    Legal cosmopolitanism: natural and positive law 60

    Positive law cosmopolitanism 63

    Cosmopolitanism and universal law 65

    Conclusion 70

    Bibliography 71

    PART TWO

    The theory of multidimensionality and the pluralism of pluralisms 75

    4 Agents and players 77

    Introduction 77

    Agents 79

    Types of agents: individuals, communities and states 81

    Self-ownership and sovereignty 83

    Peoples: natives, implanted populations and divided societies 85

    Players 91

    Players and their characteristics 92

    a) Rationality 92

    b) Strategies 93

    c) Information 95

    Players, game theory and territorial disputes 95

    Conclusion 99

    Bibliography 100

    5 Contexts, realms and modes of existence 104

    Introduction 104

    Contexts 106

    Sovereignty, cosmopolitanism and the domestic context 108

    Sovereignty, cosmopolitanism and the regional context 110

    Sovereignty, cosmopolitanism and the international context 111

    Realms 113

    The factual realm, sovereignty and cosmopolitanism 115

    The normative realm, sovereignty and cosmopolitanism 116

    The axiological realm, sovereignty and cosmopolitanism 117

    Modes of existence 119

    Objects, methods and epistemological acts 120

    Conclusion 125

    Bibliography 126

    6 Dimensions and variables 128

    Introduction 128

    Dimensions 131

    Unidimensionality and multidimensionality 133

    Linear dimensions 136

    a) Vertical 137

    b) Horizontal 138

    c) Diagonal or transversal, curved or spiral and other linear relationships 139

    Nonlinear dimensions 139

    a) Self-referred 140

    b) Regressive 141

    c) Chaotic 141

    d) Random 141

    Time 142

    Space 146

    According to its scope 146

    According to the way it is perceived 147

    Conclusion 150

    Bibliography 151

    PART THREE

    The application to territorial disputes and conclusive remarks 155

    7 Territorial disputes 157

    Introduction 157

    The concept of “territorial disputes” 159

    The case of Khemed between Borduria and Syldavia 163

    Unidimensionality and Khemed 165

    Multidimensionality and Khemed 170

    In terms of population 174

    In terms of territory 175

    In terms of government 175

    The significance to sovereignty and cosmopolitanism 177

    Conclusion 179

    Bibliography 180

    8 Conclusive remarks, limitations and future implications 182

    Introduction 182

    Limitations and future implications 184

    Deploying the multidimensional approach 187

    Some final remarks: partial conclusions and guidelines 187

    Conclusion 194

    Bibliography 195

    Index 197

    Biography

    Jorge E. Núñez is a Reader in Legal and Political Philosophy and International Relations at Manchester Law School, UK and Visiting Professor at Facultad de Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales, UNLP, Argentina.