Beyond Sovereignty, Within Territoriality

Abstract

According to some widespread ideas, the erosion of state sovereignty also implies the vanishing importance of territoriality in global politics. Indeed, at the end of the Cold War, some scholars have been willing to declare not only the end of history but also the end of geography. This kind of view, however, is based on a misreading of the role of territoriality in world politics. The problem is that territoriality is too often discussed only in terms of territorial sovereignty. Drawing on the recent theoretical and empirical literature in international relations and political geography, the article discusses the changing aspects of territoriality in the post-Cold War world. Notwithstanding the changes that challenge the state sovereignty, it is argued that territoriality will be preserved pivotal in world politics. Furthermore, territoriality should not be conceived as something inherently negative, but it can be seen as a positive aspect of one's identity and it can be defended as a means with which to organize power. In short, being more sensitive to different forms of territoriality could help us find better answers to the problems of late-modern world politics.