Transformation of state sovereignty in the conditions of global influence of transnational actors

Abstract

The article provides a comprehensive analysis of the transformation of the Westphalian concept of state sovereignty under the conditions of intensifying globalization processes and the growing influence of transnational actors. The purpose of the study is to identify the key factors changing the traditional understanding of sovereignty and to analyze the latest conceptual approaches to its interpretation. The methodological basis of the work consists of systemic, structural-functional, and comparative methods, which allowed considering sovereignty as a dynamic rather than a static category. The influence of three main groups of transnational actors has been studied: transnational corporations (TNCs), international non-governmental organizations (INGOs), and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). It is established that the economic power of TNCs allows them to influence national legislation and economic policy, limiting the fiscal and regulatory sovereignty of states. The activities of INGOs in the fields of human rights and ecology shape global norms that put pressure on the domestic policies of countries, sometimes contrary to the position of national governments. IGOs, in turn, require the delegation of a part of sovereign powers in exchange for economic, political, or security benefits. It is argued that modern sovereignty is undergoing not so much erosion as a qualitative transformation, turning into «networked», «functional», or «responsible» sovereignty. The state ceases to be the sole decision-making center, integrating into a complex system of global governance. It is concluded that in the new conditions, the effectiveness of a state is determined not by its ability to achieve absolute isolation, but by its capacity to adapt flexibly, participate in international regimes, and protect national interests through multilateral mechanisms.