The Modern Sovereign Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Modern Sovereign - Essay Example Political legitimacy depends not on how a government came to power, but only on whether it can effectively protect those who have consented to obey it; political obligation ends when protection ceases." (1) The word covenant also means agreement or an arrangement and in the modern age such as now, it is more practical to look at Hobbes's theory and on how it can be related to the way people live and or survive. The word "sovereignty" can also be connected to an old word which we also call "colonialism." Cheedy Jaja from the University of Florida explained this in her paper. She stated that Hobbes' colonialism also refer to the Sovereign as the one responsible for the protection of the people or groups included in the covenant (who also submitted themselves under the power of the sovereign for the purpose of protection) also has the responsibility for the distribution of materials that can sustain life. This distribution of materials to the people under his power may not be sufficient. According to Hobbes, (also explained by Jaja) this may lead again to a battle for goods or materials (possessions).