Chapter #2: States

State

A human community that successfully claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of a physical force within a given territory.

Sovereignty

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

Regime

Fundamental rules and norms of politics that shape how we function.

Ex. Democracy, Communism, DR, etc.

Political System

A set of formal legal institutions that make up a government or state.

Democracy

Citizens who govern themselves directly or indirectly.

(People make their own decisions about policies and the distribution of resources that affect them directly).

• Have more freedom.

Representative Democracy

People elect officials to represent them in legislative votes on matters affecting the population.

Monarchy

Power resides in a single family that rules from one generation to the next.

Absolute Monarchy

The royal family claims a divine right to rule and exercise significant power over their kingdom and gave way to constitutional monarchies.

Constitutional Monarchy

The royal family serves a symbolic and ceremonial role and enjoys little, if any, real power.

Authoritarianism

Political systems where an individual or group holds power, restricts popular participation in governance, and represses dissent (expressing opinions).

Totalitarianism

Political systems that include all features of authoritarianism but are more repressive as they try to control and regulate all aspects of citizens lives.

Parliamentary Republic

Both executive and legislative powers are primarily held within the parliament.

Democratic Republic

A combination of democracy and republicanism where representatives are elected by the people to make decisions on their behalf.

(Promotes individual equality and civic participation while emphasizing the rule of law and separation of powers).

Nation

A group of people bound together by a common set of political aspirations.

Legitimacy

A value where an institution is accepted by the public as right and genuine, giving it authority and power.

Traditional Legitimacy

Accepts aspects of politics because they’ve been institutionalized over a long period of time.

Ex. Conservatives

Charismatic Legitimacy

Built on the force of ideas embodied by an individual leader.

Ex. Jesus

Rational-Legal Legitimacy

Based on a system of laws and procedures that are highly institutionalized.

Ex. Joe Biden

Federalism

A system where state powers such as taxation, security, and lawmaking are devoted to regional or local bodies.

Asymmetric Federalism

A system where power is divided unevenly among regional bodies.

Unitary States

Most political power exists at the national level with limited local authority.

Devolution

A process where political power is sent down to lower levels of state and government.

(Increases state legitimacy because it moves the power closer to the people).

Strong State

A state able to fulfill basic tasks.

Ex. Defending territory, making and enforcing rules, collecting taxes, and managing the economy.

Weak State

A state that has difficulty fulfilling basic tasks.

(Lacks authority and legitimacy).

Failed State

A state so weak its political structures collapse, leading to anarchy and violence.

Capacity

The ability of the state to wield power in order to carry out basic tasks.

(Able to formulate and enact fundamental policies and ensure stability and security for itself and the citizens).

Autonomy

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

(States with high autonomy may act on behalf of the public).

Government

The leadership or elite in charge of running the state.