Transformations of the Concept of Sovereignty: From Hobbes to Foucault

Abstract

This study aims to trace the historical and intellectual transformations of the concept of sovereignty in Western political thought, from its modern formulation by ‎Thomas Hobbes to the critique advanced by ‎Michel Foucault. The research adopts a historical-analytical and comparative approach to examine the evolution of sovereignty through the contributions of major political thinkers, including ‎Jean Bodin, ‎John Locke, ‎Jean-Jacques Rousseau, ‎Hans Kelsen, and ‎Carl Schmitt. The study finds that sovereignty has never been a fixed concept; rather, it has undergone significant transformations from the sovereignty of the absolute ruler to popular sovereignty and later to modern legal and institutional interpretations. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that Foucault did not abolish the concept of sovereignty but repositioned it within a broader framework of power relations, discipline, biopolitics, and governmentality. The findings reveal that understanding power in contemporary societies requires moving beyond the traditional legal model of sovereignty toward an analysis of the mechanisms, institutions, and techniques through which obedience and social order are produced. The study concludes that sovereignty remains a central concept in contemporary political thought, although its interpretation has become increasingly connected to new forms of power extending beyond the conventional boundaries of the state and law.