Today, the academic journal Caucasian Strategic Perspective published an article by Orkhan Yolchuev, Director of the STEM Analytical Center, entitled
“Revisiting State Sovereignty in the Context of Global Obligations.”

The article examines how the concept of state sovereignty is evolving in the context of the development of international law and the growing scope of global obligations borne by states. Whereas sovereignty was traditionally understood as a state’s absolute authority over its territory and population, its contemporary meaning is increasingly shaped by international institutions, human rights norms, and environmental concerns.

Orkhan Yolchuev highlights the existing tension between state autonomy and the binding nature of international legal norms, including erga omnes obligations related to the prevention of transboundary harm to the climate system. The central focus of the study is how modern international law reconciles the classical notion of sovereignty with collective responsibility toward the international community as a whole.

The article emphasizes that under contemporary conditions, sovereignty should be understood as a form of responsible state authority, the legitimacy of which depends on compliance with universal legal norms. As an illustrative example, the study refers to the 2025 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on climate change.

In conclusion, the article notes that the future of state sovereignty lies in the ability of states to jointly address global challenges and to advance legal cooperation.