In international relations, sovereignty is the ability of a state to chart its own path through the international system. States and other institutions use their military, economic, and political power to try to influence the structure of the international environment so that it aligns with their preferences.

More powerful states tend to wield greater influence in international organizations. Political actors may use each of these levers of power in an aggressive fashion, as when one state sends troops to invade another state or when one state interferes in another state’s elections, or they can employ soft…

international relations — a subfield of political science that focuses on the ways different states interact with one another. nation — a shared group identity gleaned from a common culture or ethnicity. sovereignty — the ability of a state to run its institutions without fear of interference from other states or entities and to respond to threats as they emerge. state — one of the foundational institutions in the international system; an institutional infrastructure that allows a society to function.