The hottest State Sovereignty Substack posts right now

The future of war may involve increased use of long-range weapons, making clear battlefields less relevant.
Countries seem to be more willing to commit war crimes while using these weapons, showing a troubling trend.
This shift in warfare is visible from major countries like the USA and Russia and might lead to more targeting of non-combatants.

The modern social contract tradition favors centralized, sovereign states.
The social contract narrative presents a false choice between anarchy and a strong state.
Influential thinkers like Hobbes, Locke, and Rawls have influenced our preference for centralized political systems over more complex, polycentric arrangements.

Many Western leaders are wavering on their support for Ukraine, suggesting compromises for Putin. This lack of unity may be dangerous and could allow Russia to continue its brutal actions.
Ukrainians are determined to fight back and need strong support from the West. If they get the weapons and help they need, they can potentially turn the tide against the Russian forces.
History shows that giving in to aggressors leads to more problems. The West must stay strong and united to ensure Russia feels the consequences of its actions and to help Ukraine regain its territory.

Sovereignty means each state controls its own affairs and outsiders are expected not to interfere. That idea helped stop religious wars by allowing different beliefs to coexist under their own rules.
Sovereignty can shield authoritarian rulers from outside intervention, creating a dilemma when citizens try to overthrow abusive regimes. Recent uprisings highlight the tension between popular demands for change and the norm of noninterference.
Making sovereignty absolute reduced religiously motivated massacres but shifted conflict toward competition over territory and resources. In short, sovereignty brings order but can also legitimize bad governments and new forms of violence.

The gay marriage issue is very complicated, with disagreements about federal and state rights. This makes it hard for people to have clear political views on the topic.
A possible solution is to completely separate marriage from the government. People should be able to create their own marriage contracts without state involvement.
Removing government benefits for married couples would create equality. Everyone, regardless of their relationship type, could have the same rights without depending on government approval.

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