Abstract

This article discusses the evolution of sovereignty from the Anthropocene momentum. Most of the ecology-related literature finds the Sovereign State scale unfit to solve the environmental problems; however, States do persist, and it is quite impossible to ignore their central dimension both to international relations (IR) and internal politics. Their sovereignty is strongly limited by ecological dynamics, which paradoxically could need sovereign intervention to be mitigated. Political and social changes relating to the Anthropocene will have to deal with States, as they deal with the entire global society. It is worth wondering if the State/civil society separation can survive the Anthropocene, and the conclusion of this article tackles this important challenge for social sciences as well as political thinking and practices.