Reconfigured Sovereignty

by Thomas L. Ilgen

Published 23 December 2003
Much of the literature on globalization argues that state sovereignty is eroded from above and outside, that is, sovereignty is wrested from the state by institutions, organizations and forces larger than and external to the state (for example, international and regional organizations and multinational firms). This volume breaks new ground by suggesting that globalization actually empowers jurisdictions and institutions smaller than and internal to the nation-state such as cities and towns, regions and provinces. Should the processes and mechanisms of economic market integration continue over time, the book predicts that the empowerment and autonomy of cities and regions would, while not leading to the disappearance of the nation-state, give rise to reconfigured and more complex notions of sovereignty and multi-layered governance. This multidisciplinary volume should be of interest to libraries and scholars of comparative politics/political economy, international relations, international political economy, urban and regional planning.