Chapter Two States

Defining the State States versus States. The main unit of power in the world at the moment. A lot of terms pop up: state, nation, regime, government, polity, etc.

Weber and the State Simple definition: “the state is a human community that (successfully) claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory” (Max Weber, “Politics as a Vocation” in Gerth and Mills, 1946:78). As O’Neil (21) says: a state “provides security for its subjects by limiting the danger of external attack and internal crime and disorder.”

Weber and the State The modern state… (as defined by Weber 1978:56): 1. Posses an administrative and legal order (which is subject to change by legislation) 2. Is run by officials bound by that order (i.e., by known rules) 3. Both the structures and the personnel that man the structures are bound by legislative action 4. Has a territorial base 5. Controls, within its borders Citizens, Activities within its borders, and The legitimate use of force within its borders.

Weber and the State Draper and Ramsay definition (24) of the state is Weberian: 1. A set of public institutions that make and enforce rules. 2. Control of a specific territory. 3. Monopoly on the use of violence.

Additional Key Terms Regime  Basic Definition: “the fundamental rules and norms of politics” (O’Neil, 22).  It is institutionalized and can only be changed by a dramatic events s (war, revolution).  Democratic or authoritarian (see box on p28). This is the “who governs” question.

Additional Key Terms Government: the leadership in charge of the state. The means by which they govern is determined by the nature of the regime. Country: shorthand for all of this (state + regime + government).

Additional Key Terms Nations: “a named human population sharing an historical territory, common myths and historical memories, a mass, public culture, a common economy and common legal rights and duties for all members” (R&K, 98).  Psychological  Identity (ethnicity, language, religion)  An example of a true nation-state: Japan  An example of a stateless nation: the Kurds  An example of a multistate nation: North and South Korea  An example of a multinational state: Great Britain

Legitimacy Power, Authority (and Legitimacy) Legitimacy Defined: when “something or someone is recognized and accepted as right and proper” (O’Neil, 34). Types (from Weber)  Traditional  Charismatic  Rational-legal

Governing Power Legislative Executive Judicial

Degree of Centralization Unitary Federal Confederal

Unitary

Federal

Confederal

State Strength Strong, Weak and Failed Capacity Autonomy