ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the broad transformations of sovereignty and the power of the nationstate in the post-World War II era. The proliferation and increasing influence of international organizations and regimes have begun to challenge the traditional notions of power and sovereignty associated with the individual nationstate. Modern states derive their sovereignty in the international system from other states. State sovereignty in the Modern era has two components; an internal element and an external element. The internal component of sovereignty refers to the relationship between the state and civil society. External sovereignty centers on the recognition of a state by other actors in the international system. The Modern nationstate that arose after the Treaty of Westphalia to dominate international relations has begun to undergo significant evolutions in purpose and sovereignty. The memberstate has evolved as an enhanced nationstate that has access to greater resources than any political unit had in the past, with the exception of the empire.
