Foreign Service Officer Test (FSOT) Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Prep Guide for Exam Success!

The term "sovereignty" in the context of international relations specifically refers to the authority of a state to govern itself without external interference. This concept is foundational to the understanding of statehood and international law, as it underlines the principle that each state has the right to exercise control over its territory, make its own laws, and determine its own policies without outside influence or coercion.

Sovereignty is crucial for maintaining the independence of nations and is often linked to notions of national security and territorial integrity. States use the notion of sovereignty to assert their rights in the international arena, negotiate treaties, and engage in diplomacy, all while emphasizing their independence from other entities.

The other options, while relevant to international relations, do not define sovereignty. Waging war pertains to the actions states may take under certain conditions but does not encapsulate sovereignty itself. Economic independence relates to the ability of a state to sustain its economy without internal or external dependencies but is not an inherent component of sovereignty. Lastly, the establishment of diplomatic relations is a separate aspect of international engagement that does not directly define a country's sovereign rights.