POG 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Pigovian Tax, Authoritarianism, Liquor Control Board Of Ontario
20 Jun 2018
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Lecture 3 The Roles of the State
A brief history of the “state”
- Firm border and government inside has authority
- Not new
- “state” evident in the oldest Egyptian, Persian and Chinese civilizations
- a fluid concept… subject to personal and clan dominations
- 1950: 60 Sovereign States
- 2015: 193 Sovereign States
Process of decolonization, national liberation movements and secession has created new states
Modern state system originated in the 30 years’ war (1618-1648)
- War of political authority
30 year war of Westphalia caused by fight for authority
Where did final political authority reside?
Who would control land and taxation?
To whom would tax revenues accrue?
- Four central actors
Catholic Church
The Habsburgs, controlling the Holy Roman Empire
Local princes in Germany
Other great powers, particularly France and Sweden
The War
- 1618-1629: Habsburgs crush protestants in Germany
- 1631-1635: Sweden intervenes against Habsburgs, led by Gustavus Adolphus and
supported by France
Both have the same goal: if Habsburgs dominate Germany, their independence is
imperilled. As Cardinal Richelieu states: “If Germany is lost, France cannot exist.”
Gustavus crushes Habsburgs in a series of battles in 1631-1632, but is killed in a
battle in September 1632
- 1635-1648: France invades Germany to finish off the Habsburgs
- Very costly war- estimated that about half of the German population killed
- There is a territory recognized by others, state establishes itself
Treaty of Westphalia, 1648
- Victory for German Princes over
Catholic Church
Habsburg Empire
- Gave individual rulers in Holy Roman Empire:
The right to govern their land free of external interference
Keep any land they had confiscated from church
- Broader importance:
Ended imperial unity and unity under catholic church as organizing principle for
Europe
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Evolved into modern principle of sovereignty: “Supreme and independent political
authority of the nation-state within its own territory.”
Treaty of Westphalia, 1648
- Key principles
Sovereignty
Territoriality
Autonomy
- Key institutions
Diplomacy
The balance of power
International law
- Other state features of Westphalia
National militaries
Emergence of capitalism
The rise of constitutions to define the role of the state
- People realize they need rule of law
- Constitution emerges after America has written a constitution
- Declares sovereignty
- “Basic law” of a country, upon which all other laws are based
- sets limits on what the state can do, and cannot do
- core of countries’ political systems and traditions
- not just democracies, authoritarian systems have constitutions, too
- can be written or unwritten (see Box 4.5)
- British constitution unwritten
- “Living documents,” meaning they can be amended
What are the basic ingredients of a constitution?
- State of sovereignty
Government power resides in monarch/the people
Who is sovereignt?
- Governing institutions
(Senate, commons, courts, executive, etc)
- Rights and freedoms
- Amending formula
- Federalism (?)
Division of power among national and state governments
Types of state intervention
- Two main purposes for government: security and welfare
Security: Foreign policy and defence, right to exist and be recognized
Welfare: Citizens expect protection (security of person and property) and services in
return for taxes
- Core question of politics: How much security? How much welfare?
- Evolution over time
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
State evident in the oldest egyptian, persian and chinese civilizations a fluid concept subject to personal and clan dominations. Process of decolonization, national liberation movements and secession has created new states. Modern state system originated in the 30 years" war (1618-1648) 30 year war of westphalia caused by fight for authority. 1631-1635: sweden intervenes against habsburgs, led by gustavus adolphus and supported by france. Both have the same goal: if habsburgs dominate germany, their independence is imperilled. As cardinal richelieu states: if germany is lost, france cannot exist. Gustavus crushes habsburgs in a series of battles in 1631-1632, but is killed in a battle in september 1632. 1635-1648: france invades germany to finish off the habsburgs. Very costly war- estimated that about half of the german population killed. There is a territory recognized by others, state establishes itself. Gave individual rulers in holy roman empire: The right to govern their land free of external interference.
