Chapter 2: States

Political scientists

define the state as the organization that maintains a monopoly of force over a territory.

Quebec

has powers over taxation and healthcare that other provinces lack.

Federal system

- some powers lay with the national government, most with state governments.

individual freedom

The norms and rules regarding and collective equality, the locus of power, and the use of that power.

strength

The " "or "weakness "of a state is better measured by considering the states capacity and autonomy.

Asymmetric Federal system

- Indian states reflect the linguistic and ethno- religious differences in the country.

Legitimacy

: a value whereby an institution is accepted by the public as right and proper, thus giving it authority and power.

Authority

is bound by territory.

John Locke

: People are inherently good, but they have a difficult time resolving disputes.

basic tasks

State is able to fulfill with a minimum of public intervention; power highly centralized; strong state.Danger: Too high a level of capacity and autonomy may prevent or undermine democracy.

Coercion

: Individuals are brought together by a ruler, who imposes authority and monopolizes power.

Regime

: fundamental rules and norms of politics that shape.

Consensus

: Individuals band together to protect themselves and create common rules; leadership chosen from among the people.

Federalism

: Significant state powers, such as taxation, lawmaking, and security, are devolved to regional or local bodies.

Sovereignty

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

Nonstate actors

Power is highly decentralized among state and .

Thomas Hobbes

: People are inherently bad.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

: People are inherently good.

Asymmetric federalism

: Different regions have different powers.

domestic security

A state needs to be able to act as the primary authority over its territory and the people who live there, passing and enforcing laws, defining and protecting rights, resolving disputes between people and organizations, and generating .

Middle East

Around 10, 000 years ago, agriculture, animal domestication, and sedentary communities arose in the , allowing for increased political organization.

Government

: leadership or elite in charge of running the state.

Unitary states

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

legitimate use of physical

A state is a "human community that (successfully) claims the monopoly of the force within a given territory ..

Symmetric federalism

: All regions have the same powers.

basic tasks

State is able ot fulfill with a minimum of public interference or direct control, but its capacity to fulfill is limited.Danger: State is ineffectual, limiting development, and slow development may provoke public unrest.

Unitary state

- all political authority is centralized in the national government.

Sovereignty

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

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

People are inherently good

Consensus

Individuals band together to protect themselves and create common rules; leadership chosen from among the people

Coercion

Individuals are brought together by a ruler, who imposes authority and monopolizes power

Fear

punish dissent

Rewards

bribe supporters

Legitimacy

a value whereby an institution is accepted by the public as right and proper, thus giving it authority and power

Federalism

Significant state powers, such as taxation, lawmaking, and security, are devolved to regional or local bodies

Strong states

states that are able to fulfill basic tasks

Weak states

states unable to execute basic tasks

Failed states

states so weak that their very basic state structures break down

Definition

: transfer of power and funding from national to local governments.

Key concept

Sovereignty

The risk

its rivals will interfere with its authority, inflicting damage, taking its territory, or destroying the state outright

Regime

fundamental rules and norms of politics that shape

Government

leadership or elite in charge of running the state

Thomas Hobbes

People are inherently bad

John Locke

People are inherently good, but they have a difficult time resolving disputes

In Focus

Two Paths of Political Organization

Power Dispersion

Centralization versus Decentralization

Unitary states

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

Symmetric federalism

All regions have the same powers

Example

United States

Asymmetric federalism

Different regions have different powers

Example

Canada

Devolution

Its NOT Federalism

Definition

transfer of power and funding from national to local governments

Key difference with federalism

less "permanent"

In Comparison

Centralization and Decentralization

Unitary state

all political authority is centralized in the national government

Federal system

some powers lay with the national government, most with state governments

Asymmetric Federal system

Indian states reflect the linguistic and ethno-religious differences in the country

State Power

Strong and Weak States

Fragile States Index

Fund for Peace

Definition

Ability to wield power to carry out basic tasks

Definition

Ability to wield power independently of the public or international actors

Disadvantage

may undermine democracy

Disadvantage

Sate may be unable to develo new policies and respond to new challenges

Disadvantage

state is ineffective

Disadvantage

risk of internal state failure

State is able to fulfill basic tasks with a minimum of public intervention; power highly centralized; strong state.Danger

Too high a level of capacity and autonomy may prevent or undermine democracy

State is able to fulfill basic tasks, but public plays a direct role in determining policy and is able to limit state power and scope of activity.Danger

State may be unable to develop new policies or respond to new challenges owning to the power of organized opposition

State is able ot fulfill with a minimum of public interference or direct control, but its capacity to fulfill basic tasks is limited.Danger

State is ineffectual, limiting development, and slow development may provoke public unrest

State lacks the ability to fulfill basic tasks and is subject to direct public control and interference; power highly decentralized among state and nonstate actors; weak state.Danger

Too low a level of capacity and autonomy may lead to internal state failure

Autonomy and Capacity

Country Examples

V. In Sum

Studying States