CHP 3: the state Flashcards
finish the sentence
states are…
- key factors in economic development
- shape experiences of citizens
- central characters in international politics
important to know state to know politics
finish the sentence
the state is characterized by…
- controlled use of force
- bureaucratic organization
- provision of public goods
What are characteristics of high capacity state?
- established monopoly on use of force
- properly functioning bureaucracy with low levels of corruption, and accomplishes tasks (managing defense, public health)
- rule of law is maintained (predictable and managable environment)
- adequate revenue to accomplish this
*
What are some characteristics of a fragile state?
a state cannot do what it is conventionally made to do
for example (fragile state index)
-ability to tax, cannot provide public services, institutionalized discrimination
Society?
large network of people, places, things where power is distributed
large complex set of ties that connects people to eachother
state plays role in society also, not just politics
What are modern states in society?
they are partially autonomous, meaning they are not subject to total control of other organizations but serve as a base control
for example, modern states at the time in europe were experiencing tensions with the catholic church. So these states shared sovereignty
When crisis emerges in society where/what do people turn/do?
to the states bc they take on a directing role
coordinating collective action
* they look to them to address it
* hold them accountable if they do not
Is a strong civil society a sign of a strong state?
yes.
they accompany well-institutionalized democracies and give problems to authoritarian states (they look to eliminate these factors)
What do some scholars say about the state-society relationship?
that strong civil societies can be an obstacle in developing a strong state.
* they can resist building efforts (like avoiding taxation)
* creating modern states come with struggle between builders and actors
give some features in terms of society
weak state
- less autonomous
- less responsive to citizenry
- intervene economy and society often
give some features in terms of society
strong state
- help societies solve problems of collective action
- provide public goods that can be produced by large scale societies on their own
3 main characteristics of modern state
- bureaucracy
- impersonality
- sovereignty
describe more
bureaucracy
- considered this if rational/universally applicable system administered on basis of rules and office holders (rules available for all to see)
- highly efficient way to coordniate behavior (–> toward common projects)
- lever linking (leader or group at top to large # of people under)
describe more
impersonality
- impersonal - not closely identified with personality of individual
- state usually treats its members as having citizenship
- state often lacks a human face (good way to put it)
describe more
sovereignty
- legitmate authority
- international recognition of authority
- control over some territory
