Chapter 2: The modern state

State

An ongoing administrative apparatus that develops and administers laws and generates and implements public policies in a specific territory

4 key characteristics of modern states

1.Territory

2.External and internal sovereignty

3.Legitimacy

4.Bureaucracy

Territory

An area with clearly defined borders over which a state claims rule

External sovereignty

Sovereignty relative to outside powers, must be recognized by other states as an independent state (usually based on UN rules), can’t be overly dependent on outside powers

Internal sovereignty

The sole authority with a territory capable of making an enforcing laws is the state, they have the monopoly over the ability to use force

Legitimacy

The recognized right to rule from the people, ex. there are no violent revolutions trying to overthrow the government and people largely respect the laws

Bureaucracy

A large set of appointed officials whose function is to implement the laws of the state, as directed by the executive

Political goods

Services provided by the state to the people including security, infrastructure and health care

Strong states

Generally capable of providing political goods to all citizens in all parts of the territory

Weak states

Can only partially provide political goods (ex. they may focus all their resources on the part of the territory where resources come from, effectively ignoring the rest of the territory)

Failed states

Lose effective sovereignty over their territory (or parts of it)

Resource curse

When a state relies on a key resource (ex. mineral wealth or oil) for almost all of its revenue, allowing it to ignore its citizens, resulting in a weak state

Quasi-states

States that have legal sovereignty and international recognition but lack most domestic features of a functioning state, of they rely on outside factors for many resources