CZY ŻYJEMY W PAŃSTWIE PO-SUWERENNYM?

This article has two parts: 1) analysis of the concept of sovereignty and proposal of some ways to its understanding; 2) analysis of the socio-political area of human life, where we actually exist in the post-sovereign state. In the first part the author discussed the history of the concept of sovereignty (Middle Ages, J. Bodin, T. Hobbes, G.W.F. Hegel, J. Maritain) and its main senses (sovereignty as a form of absolute, constant and sacred power; sovereignty as full autonomy of authority in relation to different parts of society, and its su-premacy). In the second part the author analyzed the political system of the state in the era of globalization and integration and its consequences (founda-tion of supranational communities and structures; benefits; imposing rights and standards of legal solutions; limiting the right of veto; adoption of a common currency and citizenship; lack of some political competences). As a result, sov-ereignty becomes merely a useful fiction, and many people believe that they actually live in the post-sovereign state.