Rosenblum notes on p. 245 of the paperback edition: "The only way to keep them [the space-residing humans, who are phenotypically different even though they are genetically the same] safe is to be separate. A nation with the power to protect its own." Hence, sovereignty protects difference, in this way of thinking about things. Do you agree?
If sovereignty is defined as a political body not under external control, then yes I think that I would say that it protects difference. The reasoning behind this is that if an area is controlled by the local population and not by people from some far off place than they will be more able to keep their specific identity because outsiders with different ideas or practices will not influence it.
I feel that the flip side of this idea is illustrated by the Colonial Era. During this time period, powerful countries ere using military force to impose their way of life on other parts of the world in order to gain economic and political advantages over their competitors. The result was often that people in the colonized areas were forced to take on many aspects of the cultures of the colonizer countries, and in turn lost parts of their own culture. In addition the cultural side of this, the colonized people were being ruled by governments and rulers that had no idea what life in that area was like and so, often laws and political lines were made that did not make any sense to the people of the colonized area.
That happened it Africa and no we are seeing the outcome. The lines of the current countries did not correspond necessarily with where traditionally tribes had identified with. This issue has lead to many conflicts over the years. It is possible that many o these conflicts would have been avoided if Africa and other colonized areas had been allowed to develop on their own into individual sovereign states.
I agree with you all they way. Many places did lose their individuality because of the affects of other areas. It was the joyous ideas of imperialism. Gain as much land as possible. It brings me right back to question 7 though. The ideas of more powerful countries having the obligation of helping the poorer countries. Africa today is all hacked up because Europe thought they had the obligation to help them ie. The White MAn's BUrden. If the idea of imperialism was never in play maybe they would have developed on their own. Maybe the world would be different. We are never going to be able to "separate" because we feel the "obligation" to help the less fortunate or purge the countries of those who do not belong. It's the idea of having more power.
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