PSC 150 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Wield, Asymmetric Federalism, Political Evolution
31 Mar 2016
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State: the organization that maintains a monopoly of violence over a territory. Sovereignty: the ability to carry out actions and policies within a territory independent of external actors and internal rivals. A state needs to be able to act as the primary authority over its territory and the people who live there - to achieve this, a state needs power. To secure control, a state must be armed; to protect against international rivals, states need armies; in response to domestic rivals, states need a police force. The state is made up of a large number of institutions that are engaged in the process of turning political ideas into policy. The public views the state as legitimate, vital and appropriate. Regime: the fundamental rules and norms of politics. Do not easily or quickly change, although they can be transformed or altered.
