PS 170

Samuels, Titty

State

(Original): "A political-legal unit with sovereignty over a particular geographic territory and the population that resides in that territory."

• Simplified: The "boss" of a specific piece of land and the people on it.

Sovereignty

(Original): "Ultimate responsibility for and legal authority over the conduct of internal affairs—including a claim to a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force."

• Simplified: Having the final say and being the only one allowed to use a "big stick" (violence) legally.

Failed State

(Original): "A state where sovereignty over claimed territory has collapsed or was never effectively established at all."

• Simplified: A state that exists on a map but can't actually control its territory or keep people safe.

Collective Action Problem

(Original): A situation wherein each individual has private incentives not to participate in an action that benefits all.

• Simplified: Everyone wants a clean park, but no one wants to be the person who has to pick up the trash.

The Prisoner’s Dilemma

Two individuals acting in their own self-interest pursue a course of action that does not result in the ideal outcome for the group.

Hobbe’s Solution to "State of Nature"

The Leviathan

State of Nature

In the "State of Nature," life is "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short" because people can't trust each other not to steal or kill.

The Leviathan

People agree to a Social Contract, giving up some freedom to a powerful central authority (The State) in exchange for security.

Legitimacy

(Original): "The degree to which citizens willingly accept the state’s sovereign authority to use power."

• Simplified: Do the people actually believe the government has the right to tell them what to do?

Nation

(Original): "A cultural grouping of individuals who associate with each other based on collectively held political identity."

• Simplified: A group of people who feel they belong together (like "The Kurds" or "The French"), even if they don't have their own state.

Government

(Original): "A concrete organization that has the authority to act on behalf of the state."

• Simplified: The specific people currently in charge (the administration), whereas the "State" is the permanent office they hold.

Protection Racket - Charles Titty

(Original): A situation where a "protector" creates a threat and then charges for its reduction.

• Simplified: The state is like the Mafia: "Pay me 'tax' money, or I'll hurt you—and by the way, I'm also the only one who can protect you from the neighbor who wants to hurt you."

Double-Edged Protection

• Concept: Protection can be "comforting" (shielding from others) or "ominous" (the protector is the threat).

• Simplified: Your bodyguard is great until he decides to rob you.

The Four Interdependent Activities - Charles Titty

Tilly argues that successful states do these four things in a cycle:

1. War Making: Eliminating or neutralizing rivals outside the own territory.

   • Simplified: Fighting other countries.

2. State Making: Eliminating or neutralizing rivals inside the territory.

   • Simplified: Disarming local lords, crushing rebellions, and getting rid of private armies.

3. Protection: Eliminating or neutralizing the enemies of their clients (the people).

   • Simplified: Keeping the peace so people can work and pay more taxes.

4. Extraction: Acquiring the means (money, men) of carrying out the first three activities.

   • Simplified: Taxing the population to pay for the army and the police.

The Role of Capitalists

Rulers needed money for war; they borrowed from bankers/capitalists. In exchange, they created courts and property rights to keep those capitalists happy.

Indirect Rule

Rulers relied on local "magnates" (lords) to keep order.

Direct Rule

Rulers bypassed the lords and created their own official police forces and tax bureaus that reached every village.