Passage: Sovereignty, in political theory, refers to the supreme authority within a territory. Traditional Westphalian sovereignty emphasizes the principle of non-interference: each state has exclusive authority over its domestic affairs, and external powers are forbidden from intervening. However, the rise of international human rights law has challenged this absolute conception. Proponents of the Responsibility to Protect doctrine argue that sovereignty is not a right of absolute control, but rather a responsibility to protect one's population. If a state fails to prevent mass atrocities or is the perpetrator of them, its sovereignty is considered suspended, allowing the international community to intervene, potentially through military force. Critics of this shift argue that such a doctrine undermines international stability and serves as a pretext for powerful states to infringe upon the autonomy of weaker nations. They contend that the principle of non-interference is the only safeguard against a return to a world of neo-colonial expansion. This debate highlights the tension between the rights of states and the rights of individuals in a globalized legal order.