INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE DIMINISHING SOVEREIGNTY OF MEMBER STATES: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Abstract

This study examines the controversy of diminishing state sovereignty associated with being member of International Organizations. The study focuses on the European Union as an international organization. It is an indisputable fact that these international organizations have contributed immensely to the reshaping of the international system and to a large extent, the reduction of war and conflict vis-à-vis the promotion of peace and security, economic growth and development and the advocacy of alternative dispute resolutions in the face ofinternational crisis. The study adopts qualitative research method to elicit data. With the use of context analysis, the research found that the European Union, as a regional international organization, strengthens the sovereignty of its member states rather than diminishing it. The strength and powers of the EU is derived from the collective authority pledged by its member states. It further found that the EU protect, the integrity and sovereignty of its member states by giving them the prerogative to reject or accept any of its polices by domesticating it by its national parliaments. The study recommendations and stated that, the process of the European Union policy formulation and decision making should be made transparent and  democratic enough to command the confidence of citizens in EU countries to avoid disengaging and agitations from member states of the Union.