Which thinkers developed the theory of pluralistic sovereignty?

The theory of pluralistic sovereignty, which emerged in the 20th century as a challenge to the traditional doctrine of state sovereignty, was developed by political scientists including Léon Duguit, Hugo Krabbe, and Harold J. Laski.1

This perspective, rooted in the broader concept of pluralism, posits that sovereignty does not reside in a single, absolute authority. Instead, it is exercised by various political, economic, social, and religious groups that influence the governance of a state. According to this doctrine, sovereignty is not fixed; it shifts constantly among different groups or alliances, and the state is viewed as merely one of many expressions of social solidarity rather than an entity possessing unique or supreme authority.1

In early 20th-century England, this movement was also championed by writers such as Frederic Maitland, Samuel G. Hobson, Richard H. Tawney, and George Douglas Howard Cole, who advocated for economic and administrative decentralization to better integrate individuals into their communities.2