The Hidden Globe

In The Hidden Globe, Abrahamian explores forms of state sovereignty that differ from traditional conceptions of contemporary nation-state sovereignty. She is critical of some of these forms of sovereignty, while being open to others as models for addressing the limitations of the traditional state model. The traditional conception of nation-state sovereignty, as described by Abrahamian, is “one land, one law, one people, and one government” (6). In the hidden globe, this conception of state sovereignty is transformed in a variety of ways.

One alternative mode of sovereignty is creating areas where typical laws and regulations governing imports, exports, taxation, and manufacturing are suspended in favor of a different set of regulations. A key example of this is the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC). The DIFC is of particular interest to Abrahamian because it has its own judicial system, separate from the judiciary of the country in which it is located. Effectively, Dubai has devolved some of its judicial authority to a tribunal run by a network of corporate entities. Further, this structure stretches the concept of state sovereignty because the DIFC courts claim jurisdiction over any corporation that is registered in the DIFC regardless of where it actually operates.