POL S235 Chapter Notes - Chapter 3: Extortion, Public Land, Institutional Theory
29 Jan 2017
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Document Summary
State: the most important form of political organization in modern politics, ideally is characterized by central control of the use of force. bureaucratic organization and provision of a number of public goods. Rule of law: a system that imposes equal rights and enforcement of laws and the relative independence of judiciary. Modern state: a concept used to distinguish new states from earlier forms of political centralism, includes features below. States aim to do things, and these come to de ne the state. Failed states fault state: can or doesn"t do the functions expected. Happens when state capacity falls below a threshold. Society is the web of people that connects us all (7 degrees of separation) Lots of non-state actors have power civil society: a space in society outside the organization of the state in which citizens come together and organize themselves. Depends on people being able to communicate without state intervention. Strong society != strong state (the opposite is true)
