Territorial governance with limited sovereignty: how external control of space can change the role of the state

INTRODUCTIONState sovereignty is questioned in an era marked by new forms of international collaborations alongside shifting power relations resulting from changing geopolitical dynamics. The advent of globalisation has eroded the state’s traditional role in unilaterally shaping territorial development. In some cases, this exclusive role has gradually eroded internally, through, for example, the promotion of decentralisation, and externally, by opening to international actors and interests. While variations exist among countries, the complexity of how sovereignty plays out has shifted as well as a result of the current international geopolitical landscape, giving rise to new territorial dynamics and governance processes. This chapter explores how the development of infrastructure corridors alters the state’s role in the era of globalisation. By examining two emblematic experiences – the Balkan Silk Road as the regional branch of the Chinese initiative known as the One Belt One Road (BRI) and the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) – the chapter aims to delve into the mechanisms of territorial governance brought forth by these distinct initiatives. The BRI, initiated by the Chinese government, aims to reshape the global geopolitical environment and facilitate the movement of goods worldwide. In contrast, SAGCOT is a public–private partnership (PPP) involving philanthropic foundations aiming to enhance agricultural productivity, improve food security, reduce poverty, and ensure environmental sustainability by commercialising smallholder agriculture. In this context, the chapter explores how state sovereignty is shifting and, in parts, may be undermined and examines the implications for territorial governance in the presence and influence of foreign actors. Through the lens of sovereignty, the chapter raises questions about the mechanisms employed by other actors to influence decisions related to territorial development and how they become integrated into the existing territorial governance. The choice of these cases allows an examination of the strategies employed by private versus public stakeholders to achieve their respective goals. The chapter concludes by considering the fragility of specific global contexts and their susceptibility to external influences on governance while highlighting the multitude of external stimuli to which a state may be subjected.