WEEK 3- The State

Question 1

What is Heywood’s definition of the State?

Answer 1

‘Political association that establishes sovereign jurisdiction within defined territorial borders, and exercises authority via a set of permanent institutions’

Question 2

What does Heywood’s definition of the state imply?

Answer 2

• The state is a territorial association
• State institutions are public

-The state is sovereign
(Internal and external sovereignty)

-State authority is backed up by coercion

Question 3

How did the development of the state occur?

Answer 3

Ideas developed in 16th- 18th centuries

Peace of Westphalia after 30yrs war ( 1618-48)

• Centralisation of state power
• Decline of papal authority

Further consolidation of the state in 19th century

• Growth of nationalist sentiments
• Entrenchment of borders
• Growing role of the state

Question 4

What is the development of the role of the state in the 20th century (In Europe/West)

Answer 4

• 1940’s: Total war: All the
  state focus on war
• Post WW2: Welfare state: Role of state increase. Taking control of people’s life
• The ‘New Right’: 1970’s: Rolling back state control (Let people do what people do best, live with little involvement)
• Post 2000: Growth of Security State: 9/11: State control increase

Question 5

What about the development of states abroad?

Answer 5

States are a western concept and is exported abroad. (Via Colonies)

Done for an ulterior motive of stability and order.

Question 6

What are the elements of Failed States?

Answer 6

Typically post-colonial states.

Lack:
- Legitimate monopoly of 
  force
- System of law and order 
- Sound infrastructure
- Ethnic or Cultural Cohesion

Question 7

What is the contract theory and how does it answer the conception of states?

Answer 7

Binding people to state authority in return for order and stability

Question 8

What’s Hobbes view on the contract theory

Answer 8

Said in the Leviathan, 1651:
-Strong state is needed to prevent ‘war of all against all’
(people will attack each other without the state (The Leviathan))

Question 9

What is Locke’s view on the contract theory?

Answer 9

Even without the state, contracts and agreements will still exist, so state should exist to protect these agreements

In turn, state protecting individual rights.

Question 10

What’s the minimal state?

Answer 10

-Individuals should enjoy the widest possible realm of freedom.

• Negative Conception
  -Locke: ‘Nightwatchman state’
  (Just to look after but to do very little)

-20th century scholars: Hayek,Friedman, Nozick

-Politicians:
Thatcher and Reagan

Question 11

What is Pluralism?

Answer 11

About the state and who communicates with the state

So, lots of voices can be heard.

Question 12

EXAMPLE OF STATE INVOLVEMENT:

A state fostering economic development

Answer 12

• Intervention in economic life to promote industrial growth and economic development

Contexts:

East Asia: (South Korea and Japan)

Europe: Corporatism (Germany and Austria)

Question 13

What is Corporatism?

Answer 13

Governments only speak to Trade Unions and Businesses/Industries and vice versa

Question 14

Why did Corporatism fail?

Answer 14

Failed in the 70’s due to the over-expansion of trade unions

Question 15

What is the Social-democratic state?

Answer 15

Aims to bring about social restructuring and socio-economic equality and justice

Positive conception of the state

Strong presence in Nordic/Scandinavian Countries

Question 16

What are the types of Non-democratic states?

Answer 16

Collectivised state: Economic life under state control

Totalitarian State: Near abolition of private sphere

Religious State: No separation of church and state