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 action4. Has a territorial base5. 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