Understanding the State

A collection of flashcards designed to help students review key concepts, definitions, and important questions regarding the state and its characteristics.

How does Max Weber define the modern state?

As the human community that successfully claims the monopoly of legitimate physical violence within a given territory

Meaning; only the state is allowed to legally use force, and it does so to make rules stick within its borders.

What does "monopoly of legitimate violence" mean?

Only the state can legally use force; violence by others is considered criminal or terrorism.

Why is Weber’s definition of the state important?

It highlights the state’s unique power to enforce laws and maintain order.

How do we encounter the state at birth?

A midwife must be present, and a birth certificate must be issued within six weeks.

How does the state regulate health and death?

It decides medical treatments, the legality of assisted dying, and issues death certificates.

How does the state control freedom and movement?

Through prisons, passports, border controls, and permission to leave or return.

How does the state influence education and transport?

It mandates schooling and curriculum and manages transport networks.

What is the key takeaway about the state and daily life?

Almost everything we do is shaped or regulated by the state.

What geographic features must a state have?

Territory, permanent population, government, organised economy, and a circulation system.

Why is Antarctica not considered a state?

It lacks a permanent population and effective government.

What is sovereignty?

The ability of a government to make and enforce laws and control its population.

Why is international recognition important for a state?

Without recognition by other states, sovereignty is weak or contested.

Why is state violence seen as legitimate?

Because it is sanctioned by law and authority.

Why is violence by non-state actors treated differently?

It is considered illegal or terrorism.

Why did early England lack a modern state?

Power was fragmented among nobles, each with their own armies.

What does the Anglo-Saxon example show about the state?

The modern state emerged only once violence became centralized.

Why do states appear static on maps?

Maps hide the fact that borders have changed dramatically over time.

What happened in 1648 that shaped modern states?

The Peace of Westphalia established state sovereignty and non-interference.

What is the key principle of the modern nation-state system?

States agree not to interfere in each other’s internal affairs.

What do voluntary theories of state formation argue?

States formed because cooperation benefited communities.

What do bellicose theories argue?

War drove state formation by forcing centralisation and resource mobilisation.

What do economic theories of state formation argue?

States emerged to organise labour, production, and industrial economies.

What does it mean to say the state is challenged "from above"?

Global forces reduce state control over economic, political, and environmental issues.

How do global financial flows challenge states?

Financial markets and corporations can be larger than national economies.

How did the Greek debt crisis challenge state sovereignty?

IMF and ECB imposed austerity measures against the Greek government’s wishes.

Why do global information flows challenge states?

States struggle to control knowledge and secrets in a digital world.

What is transnational politics?

When states voluntarily share or give up sovereignty to international organisations.

Give examples of organisations that challenge state sovereignty.

UN, NATO, EU.

Why was Brexit linked to sovereignty?

It aimed to reassert national control from the EU.

Why does climate change challenge the idea of independent states?

Environmental impacts cross borders and affect states unequally.

What does it mean to be challenged "from below"?

Internal or sub-state groups contest state authority and territorial control.

How does Kurdistan challenge existing states?

Kurds have a shared identity across multiple states and seek independence.

Why do states view separatist movements as a threat?

They challenge territorial integrity and sovereignty.

What is the Principality of Sealand?

A self-declared micro-nation exploiting loopholes in territorial law.

How do activist groups challenge states?

By contesting government policies and creating global identities (e.g. climate justice).

Why do groups like ISIS challenge the nation-state?

They reject national borders and operate across states.

How do indigenous nations challenge the modern state?

They claim sovereignty that existed before colonial state formation.

Is the modern state disappearing?

No — but its role is changing.