JOHN AUSTIN’S THEORY OF

SOVEREIGNTY
SUBMITTED BY :
SUBMITTED TO: SHIKHA UPADHYAY
Dr. MANOJ KUMAR TRIPATHI
(ASSI😊STANT PROFESSOR) B.A.LL.B(I SEMESTER)
JOHN AUSTIN THEORY OF SOVEREIGNTY

Austin’s statement of the theory Of sovereignty is as follows : “If a determinate human superior not in a
habit of obedience to a like superior receives habitual obedience from bulk of a given society, the
determinate superior is sovereign in that society and the society is a society political and independent.”
He further qrites : “The position of its other members towards that determinate superior is a state of
subjection or a state of dependence.”
Laws:
• Law is a coand of a superior to an inferior.
• State and sovereignty is superior. People are inferior
 JOHN AUSTIN THEORY OF SOVEREIGNTY

Features
• The human superior will not obey the orders of the superior.
• The entire society will follow the orders of determinate human superior.
• Every state has a determinate human superior.
• His command is a law.
• Voilation of his command will result in punishment.
JOHN AUSTIN THEORY OF SOVEREIGNTY

Importance
• State us only source of law.
• Law are enforced only by the state.
• Stress on unity.
JOHN AUSTIN THEORY OF SOVEREIGNTY

• Austin Theory is against democratic principle.

• His theory stands for absolute monarchy.
• John Austin’s theory glorifies dictatorship..
• His theory voilates the universal principle of law.
• Austin’s theory criticised by Pluratist scholars.
JOHN AUSTIN THEORY OF SOVEREIGNTY

• Absolute theory of sovereignty

• Monistic Theory of sovereignty
• Non-pluralistic theory
• Single theory
JOHN AUSTIN THEORY OF SOVEREIGNTY

BIBLIOGRAPHY
• Websites referred http://www.legalservicesindia.com/articles/sover.htm
• http://www.politicalsciencenotes.com/theories/8-criticism-faced-by-austins-theory-of-sovereignty/252
• Books referred
• Political Theory , Amal Ray , Mohit Bhattacharya, WORLF PRESS
• An Introduction of Political Theory , O.P Gauba
THANK YOU