POLS 241: Chapter 2, states

state

organization that maintains a monopoly of force over a territory

sovereignty

ability to carry out actions and policies within a territory independently of external actors and internal rivals

physical power

defend territory from outside states, defending against organized crime and rebel movements, having armies and police force under their discretion

institutions

state: set of ___________ that wields most force within a territory, establishing order and deterring challengers from inside out

protection racket

demanding money for maintenance of security and order

legitimate

public views state as _______, vital, appropriate

economic development

states are drivers of _________ ___________, rise of democracy, etc

regime

fundamental rules and norms of politics

long term

regime embodies _____ _______ goals that guide the state

government

leadership that runs the state

long term goals

individual freedom, collective equality, where power should reside, how power should be used

country

political system that combines the entities state, regime, and government

agricultural surplus

increases population density

consensus

people band together to protect themselves and create common rules, leadership chosen among people (democracy). security through cooperation

coercion

people brought together by ruler, imposes authority and monopolizes power, security through domination (authoritarian rule)

Hobbes

Humans voluntarily submit to political authority to overcome anarchy (ensures neither freedom or equality)

Rosseau

humans are noble savages who are instinctively compassionate and egalitarian (civilization and rise of state corrupted them, institutionalized system of inequality)

sovereignty

emerged through social contract

complex organization

first emerged in Middle East; had taxation, bureaucracy, laws, military force, leadership (economic relations based on agricultural production, specialized goods and trade were secondary

European decline into anarchy

set stage for modern state

Charles tilly

new political organizations developed, competed with rivals

modern state

emerged from and in reaction to organized crime (constant warfare created competitive and fluid environment, lead to rapid organizational evolution)

China

developed sophisticated political organization by 3rd century BCE

Europe’s weakness

ethnic and linguistic fragmentation, numerous rival actors, geographic boundaries. fostered competition

first modern states

came from constant warfare of European Middle Ages, 3 advantages over other forms of political organizations

encouraged economic development

states _______________. creating laws, regulations, infrastructure, codifying private property and individual profit.

encouraged technological innovation

states__________________. New tech stimulates economic development by providing goods and services.

created domestic stability

states ____________________. increased trade and commerce, permitted development of infrastructure. Allowed free travel, creating interaction and shared identity

ethnicity

became powerful tool for the state, fostered nationalism

treaty of Westphalia

authority of Pope over Europe’s people was curtailed. States could direct religion within their own territories. modern state sovereignty defined by this. caused by struggle between roman catholicism and protestantism. Occurred after end of 30 years war, 1648

17th and 18th centuries

Spain and Portugal took control of large parts of americas; dutch, French, and British expanded power into Asia

organizational structure of state

imposed around the world by force

legitimacy

value whereby an institution is accepted by the public as right and proper, gives it authority and power. creates a sense of reciprocal responsibility to the state

max weber

political legitimacy comes in 3 forms: traditional, charismatic, rational legal

traditional legitimacy

something is valid because it’s always been that way, built over long period of time, historical identity

charismatic legitimacy

built on force of ideas embodied by an individual leader

rationa-legal legitimacy

based on system of laws and procedures that are highly institutionalized

decentralized

individual freedom

centralized

collective equality

federalism

significant state powers are devolved to regional or local bodies. supports local interests, checks growth of central power

asymmetric federalism

power is divided unequally among regional bodies

unitary states

state in which most political power exists at national level, limited local authority

devolution

political power is sent down to lower levels of state and government. moves power closer to people and can resolve ethnic or religious differences

strong state

able to fulfill basic tasks (defending territory, lawmaking and enforcement, taxes, economy)

weak state

difficulty fulfilling basic tasks

failed state

so weak that its political structures collapse, leading to anarchy and violence

capacity

ability of state to wield power in order to carry out basic tasks of providing security, reconciling freedom, and equality

autonomy

ability of state to wield its power independently of the public of international actors

formation of European states

created by war