How can sovereignty be affected by international engagement?

• A. Sovereignty can be limited through treaties and international norms.
• B. Sovereignty is absolute and cannot be limited.
• C. Treaties have no effect on sovereignty.
• D. Sovereignty only relates to economics.

Answer: (A)

Engagement with other countries can shape sovereignty because signing treaties and following international norms creates legal and political obligations that limit what a state can do. When a country enters a treaty, it accepts specific rules in exchange for benefits like trade access, security, or legitimacy. International norms—plus customary international law—guide state behavior even without a written agreement, further constraining action in areas covered by those norms. So sovereignty isn’t exercised in a vacuum; it operates within a framework of accepted rules and cooperative arrangements. This is why sovereignty can be limited through treaties and norms. The other ideas don’t fit because sovereignty isn’t absolute, treaties do have effects, and sovereignty covers more than just economics.