Paper short abstract:

This works analyses the evolution of the sovereignty concept passing by the absolute original vision, relative and sharing sovereignty, Sovereign rights – internationally added by the UNCLOS – and the new argues of sponsor States in the AREA, especially with the seabed mineral exploitations.

Paper long abstract:

The concept of sovereignty, despite is already much discussed and consolidated during the evolution of the modern era, is still debatable because of the evolution of the international actors' relationship. This work begins by the presentation of classical sovereignty concepts - almost understood as potestas absoluta - passing by the new features attributed to this original concept, until it has been inserted in the maritime context, mainly under the international legal framework. The sea, commonly "no man's land" and "patrimony of all", allows new international actors approaches. The conceptual evolution of the central theme of the work (sovereignty) has reached the point that an absolute concept of vision has become relative. Sovereignty - an original tautological concept - added new denominations: relative sovereignty, sharing sovereignty and, at sea, the new concept of Sovereign rights. Thus, the ultimate goal of the article is to demonstrate that, even in plots where international treaties formally refute any claim of sovereignty (especially by the UNCLOS, 1982), in practice, the concept has been expanded to ensure some typical sovereign claims over those regions. This work wants to highlight the exploitations in the AREA may be understood as a new concept of power action (mainly by the sponsor States). It is different of all previous discussed concepts. The proposal is to present new concepts that need to be glimpsed to the new situations that arise in the AREA, especially with the new mineral exploitations in the seabed.