The Treachery of Images in the Digital Sovereignty Debate

Abstract

This analytical essay contributes to the ongoing deliberation about the socalled digital sovereignty, as pursued particularly in the European Union (EU). Drawing from classical political science literature, the essay approaches the debate through different miscomparisons, leading to different treacheries of images. By focusing on the Peace of Westphalia in 1648, the essay develops a viewpoint distinct from the conventional territorial notion of sovereignty. Accordingly, the lesson from Westphalia has more to do with the capacity of a state to govern. With this viewpoint, the essay further advances another, broader, and more pressing debate on politics and democracy in the digital era.