Suzerainty
Suzerainty (soó-zer-en-tee, -ze-rayn'-tee) is a situation in which a
region or
people is a
tributary to a more powerful entity which allows the tributary some limited domestic
autonomy but controls its
foreign affairs. The more powerful entity in the suzerainty relationship, or the
head of state of that more powerful entity, is called a
suzerain. The term suzerainty was originally used to describe the relationship between the
Ottoman Empire and its surrounding regions. It differs from
sovereignty in that the tributary has some (limited) self-rule. As well a suzerain can mean a
feudal lord, to whom
vassals must pay tribute.
Although it is a concept which has existed in a number of historical empires, it is a concept that is very difficult to describe using
20th- or
21st-century theories of
international law, in which
sovereignty either exists or does not. While a sovereign nation can agree by treaty to become a
protectorate of a stronger power, modern international law does not recognize any way of making this relationship theoretically irrevocable by the weaker power.
Historically, the
Emperor of
China saw himself as the emperor of the
entire civilized world, and diplomatic relations in
East Asia were based on the theory that all rulers of the world derived their authority from the Emperor. The degree to which this authority existed in fact changed from dynasty to dynasty. However, even in periods where political power was distributed evenly across several political entities, Chinese political theory recognized only one emperor and asserted that his authority was paramount throughout the entire world. Diplomatic relations with the Chinese emperor were made on the theory of tributary states, although in practice tributary relations would often result in a form of trade under the theory that the emperor in his kindness would reward the tributary state with gifts of equal or greater value.
See also the article "
List of Chinese tributaries in history".
This system broke down in the
18th and
19th centuries. One way European states attempted to describe the relations between the
Qing Dynasty and its outlying regions was in terms of suzerainty, although this did not at all match the traditional Chinese diplomatic theory.
The claims of both the
People's Republic of China and the
Republic of China to
Tibet, which are generally recognized by nations having diplomatic relations with one or the other government, are based on the
Qing Empire having exercised once suzerainty over Tibet and of never having renounced this authority. This is important to the Chinese governments because it establishes a history of rule over Tibet as well as providing a legal theory of Chinese rule of Tibet under
international law, albeit one which is disputed by supporters of Tibetan independence.
That the Qing Empire once exercised suzerainty over Tibet is not in doubt: the Qing Empire occupied Tibet throughout the
18th century and signed treaties with
Great Britain in which Britain recognized Chinese suzerainty over Tibet. However, pro-Tibetan independence supporters argue that suzerainty does not equate with sovereignty and that Tibet therefore should not be part of China.
Sikkim
Following
India's independence in
1947, a treaty signed between the
Chogyal and the then
Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru gave
India suzerainty over
Sikkim in exchange for it retaining its independence. This continued until
1975, when the Sikkimese monarchy was
abrogated in favour of a merger into India. Sikkim is now one of the
states of India.
Bhutan
Currently India looks after the external, defence, communications, and foreign affairs of
Bhutan. This is one of several situations in international politics where two sovereign
states agree to have the more powerful administer the defense of the weaker. See also:
*
Italy/
San Marino*
Italy/
Vatican City*
France/
Monaco*
Spain/
Andorra*
France/
Andorra*
Switzerland/
Liechtenstein*
New Zealand/
Niue*
New Zealand/
Cook Islands*
New Zealand/
Tokelau*
Australia/
Nauru*
United States of America/
Federated States of Micronesia*
United States of America/
Republic of the Marshall Islands*
United States of America/
Republic of PalauAfter the
First Boer War (1880–81), the South African Republic was granted its independence, albeit under British suzerainty. During the
Second Boer War (1899–1902), the South African Republic was annexed as the
Colony of the Transvaal, which existed until 1910, when it became the Province of Transvaal in the
Union of South Africa.
The capital city of the United States,
Washington, D.C. is granted a limited form of
home rule in which an elected city council and mayor operate the city of Washington and District of Columbia County, but the city is constitutionally under the control and authority of the U.S. Congress. As such, Congress has
veto power over municipal legislation and has final approval of the city's budget. This means that the U.S. Congress as a body politic is suzerain to the District of Columbia, as its officials do not have local control over their affairs except to the limited extent Congress chooses to grant it to them. For example, in U.S. states the
State Defense Forces are under the control of the Governor of that state; in the District of Columbia the mayor does not have authority over the D.C. National Guard, that authority is held by the
President of the United States.
* Garver, John W.
Protracted Contest: Sino-Indian Rivalry in the Twentieth Century. Seattle: U of Washington P, 2001.
*
Satrap*
Imperialism
