Philosophy
The Concept of Sovereignty in Political Thought
Quick fact
The modern concept of sovereignty was popularized by Jean Bodin in 1576, who argued that a ruler must hold absolute and perpetual power to prevent civil war—a radical idea that helped justify the rise of nation-states.
Why this is interesting
When a government issues a law, who is the real boss behind that command? Why does the state's decision in a crisis often override local or personal wishes?