The evolving concept of sovereignty in air law /

State sovereignty is the basic underlying principle of international law. Like all branches of international law, air law has developed under this principle of sovereignty, leaving the final decision to the consents and political wills of the governments for both their internal and external affairs. In the same vein, the international system is based on the juridical equality of all nations, which are free to participate in all forms of regional and international organizations. However, due to economic and political globalization and the demand for a more efficient international cooperation as well as the market forces and technical and economical constraints, the traditional concept of sovereignty has undergone transformation. Resulting from their inherently technical, economic and international characteristics, civil aviation and air transport are the leading fields of international affairs affected by these developments.This thesis first analyses the evolution of the principle of sovereignty in general international law and then traces the transformation of sovereignty in air law by examining the issue through the approach found in the Chicago Convention as well as the recent concepts and technologies in civil aviation from the sovereignty point of view.**The opinions expressed in this thesis are strictly those of the author