POLC38H3 Lecture Notes - Vladimir Lenin
Document Summary
Max weber a state in its most basic terms is an organization that maintains a monopoly of violence over a territory. Sovereignty most important element of a state. Self-governing ability or ability to carry out actions or policies within a territory independently from external actors. The word police even comes from old french word meaning to govern. thus seeks the majority of force within a territory, establishes order and deters challengers from inside and out. The state is a number of institutions engaged in process of turning political ideas into policy. Also set of institutions that society deems necessary to achieve basic goals regarding freedom and equality. State is viewed by the public as legitimate, vital and appropriate. Remains in the face of crisis, turmoil or revolution. Therefore state is the monopoly of force over a given territory, but also the set of political institutions that transform ideas into concrete action and use their monopoly over violence to that end.