A form of international cooperation where participating nations cede some degree of sovereignty to a higher authority. This collaborative entity then possesses the power to make decisions and enforce regulations that bind its member states. An illustrative example is the European Union, where countries have delegated authority in areas such as trade, monetary policy, and environmental standards to the EU’s governing bodies.
The significance of this phenomenon lies in its capacity to foster economic integration, political stability, and collective action on shared challenges. Historically, it has emerged as a response to the limitations of purely national approaches to complex issues, such as trade wars, environmental degradation, and security threats. Benefits include enhanced economic efficiency through the creation of common markets, increased political influence on the global stage, and improved ability to address transnational problems.
