In international relations, what is the connection between the principle of national sovereignty and policies of demilitarization?

Introduction / Context:
National sovereignty and demilitarization are important concepts in world history and international relations. National sovereignty refers to the right of a state to govern itself without external interference. Demilitarization refers to limiting or removing military forces in a particular territory, often after a war or as part of a peace agreement. This question asks you to connect the two ideas and to understand how they interact in practice. It is relevant to topics such as peace treaties, occupation zones and international law.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• National sovereignty means a state has authority over its own territory and decisions.
• Demilitarization means reducing or eliminating armed forces in a specific area or in certain categories.
• The options present different possible relationships between sovereignty and demilitarization.
• The question assumes that international agreements and historical examples can guide our understanding.

Concept / Approach:
In principle, a sovereign state has the right to decide whether to maintain or limit its military. When a state agrees to demilitarization through a treaty, it exercises that sovereignty by accepting restrictions, often in exchange for security guarantees or political benefits. In some cases, victorious powers may impose demilitarization conditions on a defeated state, but these conditions still need legal form and sometimes later consent for long term enforcement. Therefore, the most accurate connection is that demilitarization measures are legitimate and stable when they are based on the consent of the sovereign state that is affected, not when they automatically destroy sovereignty or are unrelated to it.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Clarify the meaning of national sovereignty: the authority of a state to make its own laws, control its territory and manage its security. Step 2: Clarify the meaning of demilitarization: the restriction or removal of military forces, often in a defined zone or category, usually through an agreement. Step 3: Recognise that in many historical peace treaties, sovereign states agreed to limit their armed forces in order to reduce tensions or comply with international demands. Step 4: Understand that such agreements rest on the formal consent of the state concerned, even if that consent is given under pressure after defeat. Step 5: Select the option that emphasises that demilitarization can only be properly carried out and maintained with the consent of the sovereign state whose forces are being limited.

Verification / Alternative Check:
Examples from history support this connection. After both world wars, defeated powers such as Germany and Japan faced demilitarization measures, but over time their sovereign governments negotiated revised security arrangements and new defence roles. Neutral countries such as Switzerland or Costa Rica have chosen, as sovereign states, to maintain limited armed forces or no army at all. These decisions were not forced by foreign colonizers but made within a framework of sovereignty. International law also recognises the right of states to enter treaties that limit armaments, which confirms that demilitarization can coexist with, and even express, national sovereignty when there is consent.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The claim that demilitarization always destroys sovereignty is too extreme and ignores examples of sovereign states that voluntarily maintain low levels of military activity. The idea that sovereignty always requires the largest possible military is incorrect, because many sovereign countries have modest or specialized armed forces yet remain fully independent. Saying that demilitarization is unrelated to sovereignty is also wrong, because decisions about war, peace and security are central aspects of sovereign authority. These options either overstate or deny the real connection between the two concepts.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may think that any external request to reduce forces is a direct attack on sovereignty and therefore assume that demilitarization and sovereignty cannot coexist. Others might treat demilitarization as a purely technical or economic question, ignoring its political dimension. To avoid these mistakes, remember that sovereignty includes the power to make binding agreements, including those that limit military power. A state may choose demilitarization as a strategy to gain stability and international trust, and that choice still reflects its sovereign will.

Final Answer:
The best description of the relationship is that demilitarization can only be implemented with the consent of the sovereign state whose armed forces are being limited or removed, so that option is correct.