State (polity)
A political entity with sovereignty over a definite territory.
A state is a political entity that rules and governs society and the population within a definite territory. It is widely defined by the legitimacy of its sole discretion in the use of offensive and defensive force. States may be unitary or federal unions, and the term is sometimes used for federated polities that make up a federation. The earliest forms of states arose about 5,500 years ago, and over time varied forms developed using different justifications such as divine right or the theory of the social contract. Today, the modern nation state is the predominant form.
- Field
- Political science, sociology, history
- Known for
- Centralized institutions that impose rules and back them up by force over a territorially circumscribed population
- Earliest known forms
- About 5,500 years ago
- Key theorist
- Max Weber
- Weber definition
- A polity that maintains a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence within a given territory
Lore & Background
The word 'state' and its cognates in European languages ultimately derive from the Latin 'status', meaning 'condition, circumstances'. The English noun in the generic sense predates the political sense, introduced to Middle English around 1200. With the revival of Roman law in 14th-century Europe, the term came to refer to the legal standing of persons, and in particular the special status of the king. The early 16th-century works of Machiavelli played a central role in popularizing the use of the word 'state' in something similar to its modern sense, though in his time 'stato' referred primarily to the position of a person or group that has political power over individuals.
Reader's Guide
The state is a foundational concept in political science and history, with definitions that remain disputed. The most commonly used definition, by Max Weber, describes the state as a compulsory political organization with a centralized government that maintains a monopoly of the legitimate use of force within a certain territory. It is important not to confuse a state with a nation, which is more concerned with political identity and cultural factors, nor with a government, which is an organization granted authority to act on behalf of the state. Charles Tilly defined states as 'coercion-wielding organisations' distinct from households and kinship groups, and argued that war is an essential part of state-making. The degree and extent of governance of a state is used to determine whether it has failed. Sovereign states have sovereignty, but any claim to have a state faces practical limits via recognition by other states.
Did You Know?
- The word 'state' ultimately derives from the Latin 'status', meaning 'condition, circumstances'.
- Max Weber defined the state as a polity that maintains a monopoly on the legitimate use of violence.
- Charles Tilly argued that states resemble a form of organized crime and should be viewed as extortion rackets.
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