IMPACT OF GLOBALIZATION ON NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY

This paper critically examines the evolving relationship between globalization and national sovereignty in the 21st-century international order. It traces the historical development of sovereignty from the Westphalian state system to the current era of interdependence shaped by economic liberalization, digital integration, and global governance institutions. Through a multi-dimensional analysis—economic, political, legal, and cultural—the paper explores how globalization simultaneously constrains and transforms traditional conceptions of state autonomy. Drawing on realist, liberal, and constructivist theories, as well as Global South critiques, the study argues that sovereignty is neither obsolete nor absolute, but increasingly layered and negotiated. The resurgence of nationalist populism is analyzed as a response to the perceived loss of control in a globalized world. The paper concludes by proposing a balanced approach that promotes adaptive sovereignty: one that upholds democratic legitimacy, ensures policy flexibility, and enables meaningful participation in global governance. This reimagining of sovereignty is essential for resilient, accountable, and cooperative states in a deeply interconnected world.