Characteristics of the Modern State

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the characteristics and development of modern states as presented in the lecture notes.

Institutionalization

The development of formal structures and rules governing the functioning of the state.

Coercive control

The use of force or threats to maintain order and enforce laws within a state.

Territorial sovereignty

The authority of a state to govern itself and control its own territory.

Functional specialization

The division of labor among different government sectors to handle specific tasks.

Hierarchy

The organization of institutions within the state in a ranked order of authority.

International recognition

The acknowledgment by other states of a state's sovereignty and legitimacy.

Sovereignty

Supreme legal authority within a geographic area.

Monopoly of force

The exclusive right of a state to use physical force within its territory.

Decentralized political world

A political structure where power is distributed across multiple entities, not concentrated in a central authority.

Hanseatic League

A commercial alliance of merchant guilds and market towns in Northwestern and Central Europe during the late Middle Ages.