Final answer:
A sovereign state is a politically organized territory with internationally recognized authority over its territory, establishing its own policies. Stateless nations lack such recognition and face barriers in achieving autonomy. International recognition is crucial for a state's legitimacy and its role in international relations.
Step-by-step explanation:
An organized territory that is politically organized and recognized by other states for its sovereignty and government is known as a sovereign state. This state exercises supreme authority within its territory and determines its foreign and domestic policies independently. Sovereignty also implies a number of social practices and administrative arrangements, such as identifiable borders, border control, and the issuance of passports.
Certain entities can exist as stateless nations, such as the Kurds and Catalans, who do not have their own recognized state and thus face challenges in achieving autonomy and participating fully in international organizations. Examples of these include intergovernmental organizations like the United Nations and the European Union which involve multiple state actors setting institutional norms. They help in coordinating states' actions and can influence international relations significantly, especially when they include powerful states.
However, the notion of sovereignty and statehood can be complex, as seen by contested regions such as Crimea and Taiwan. Sovereignty can differ significantly in non-European international systems, and territory significance also changes based on the region's historical context. International recognition of a state by other states and intergovernmental organizations is critical for legitimacy and equal standing in the global community.