The Rise and Transformation of the

State

October 6

Overview

“The state” defined and compared to other terms

Rise of the modern state Globalization and the transformation of the

state

Defining the State

From our textbook’s glossary:

State: “A polity which claims in law (and is able to assert in fact) that within a given portion of the earth its properly constituted organs are exclusively entitled to practise legitimate violence in the pursuit of political interests, beginning with the maintenance of public order and defence of the territory from foreign encroachments.”

Defining the State

“The State” by Leo Panitch from the Canadian Encyclopedia online.

Defining the State

Fundamental aspects of the state: claims a monopoly over coercive force territorial claims sovereignty claims

Terminology?

state government country nation nation-state

Rise of the Modern State

Treaty of Westphalia (Peace of Westphalia) warfare and competitive rivalries gradual centralization of power/authority rise of capitalism, broadening of markets,

standardization of currencies rising nationalist sentiment (in part fostered by,

or sponsored by, the emergent states)

Theories of the State

Pluralist (non-theory of the state?) Weberian (institutionalist theories) Marxist (critical theories, class nature of the

state)

Globalization and the Globalization and the Transformation Transformation

of the Stateof the State

GlobalizationGlobalization

Globalization takes a variety of Globalization takes a variety of forms: economic (trade, investment), forms: economic (trade, investment), social (migration), cultural, etc.social (migration), cultural, etc.

The impact of globalization upon the The impact of globalization upon the state is widely debated. state is widely debated.

How new is globalization?How new is globalization?

““Modern industry has established the Modern industry has established the world market, for which the discovery world market, for which the discovery of America paved the way. This of America paved the way. This market has given an immense market has given an immense development to commerce, to development to commerce, to navigation, to communication by navigation, to communication by land.” land.”

Marx and Engels, 1848Marx and Engels, 1848

How new is globalization?How new is globalization?

““The need of a constantly expanding The need of a constantly expanding market for its products chases the market for its products chases the bourgeoisie over the entire surface of the bourgeoisie over the entire surface of the globe. It must nestle everywhere, settle globe. It must nestle everywhere, settle everywhere, establish connexions everywhere, establish connexions everywhere.”everywhere.”

““The bourgeoisie has through its The bourgeoisie has through its exploitation of the world market given a exploitation of the world market given a cosmopolitan character to production and cosmopolitan character to production and consumption in every country.”consumption in every country.”

How new is globalization?How new is globalization? ““The discovery of America, the rounding of the The discovery of America, the rounding of the

Cape, opened up fresh ground for the rising Cape, opened up fresh ground for the rising bourgeoisie. The East-Indian and Chinese bourgeoisie. The East-Indian and Chinese markets, the colonisation of America, trade with markets, the colonisation of America, trade with the colonies, the increase in the means of the colonies, the increase in the means of exchange and in commodities generally, gave to exchange and in commodities generally, gave to commerce, to navigation, to industry, an impulse commerce, to navigation, to industry, an impulse never before known, and thereby, to the never before known, and thereby, to the revolutionary element in the tottering feudal revolutionary element in the tottering feudal society, a rapid development.” society, a rapid development.”

Marx and Engels, 1848Marx and Engels, 1848

Globalization and the StateGlobalization and the State

globalization sceptics globalization sceptics

(“state-centric” theorists) (“state-centric” theorists)

vs. vs.

strong globalization thesis strong globalization thesis

(“retreat” theorists)(“retreat” theorists)

Classifying States: SClassifying States: Sørensenørensen

Advanced capitalist states:Advanced capitalist states:

From modern to post-modernFrom modern to post-modern Weak post-colonial states:Weak post-colonial states:

The lack of ‘stateness’The lack of ‘stateness’ Modernizing states:Modernizing states:

Between post-colonialism and post-Between post-colonialism and post-modernismmodernism