Origins of States, State Sovereignty, State Power, and Legitimacy

Reading Quiz – 8/30 – Lachmann and Mansbach Log on to Socrative Student and complete the 8/30 Reading Quiz If you do not have a device, take out a sheet of paper and follow along with me. 8/30 Reading Quiz

What is a State? Political power exercised over a defined geographic territory through a set of public institutions

Terms you should know Treaty of Westphalia Sovereignty Power Elites State Divine Right of Kings Rule of Law Legitimacy

Origins of States Stations Families and Tribes Station 1 The City-State Station 2 Feudalism Station 3 Empires Station 4 The Nation Station 5 The State Station 6

Why States? Theories Weber – Capitalism and Scientific Development States were better than the other forms of polities at collecting taxes, administering territories, and mobilizing armed forces Marx – Classes States are the instruments of the dominant class Capitalists take control of states to protect their money and property rights Tilly – Fiscal-Military Model Rulers conquered or struck deals to absorb their rivals and maintain power Kiser, Rosenthal, and Greif – Rational Choice Theory Rulers and subjects make rational decisions using cost-benefit analysis Mann – Theory of Power Societies are not unitary – they overlap Power is interrelated – ideological, economic, military, and political

Homework – 8/30 Notecards for terms

States lasted because they maintained the control of power

Where does power come from in our case studies Group 1 The US Group 2 The UK Group 3 Mexico Group 4 Russia Group 5 China Group 6 Iran Group 7 Nigeria

Where Does Power come From in our case studies? Each group will need to use their phones to research their country and answer the questions listed on the handout Start with CIA World FactBook and other government websites When you have finished, one member from each group will rotate to another group and “teach” them about power in their country Be sure to take notes on EACH country!

Read the following: Article – “Why the Rule of Law Matters” Homework – 8/31 Read the following: Article – “Why the Rule of Law Matters” State Legitimacy Article

Log on to Socrative Student and complete the 9/1 reading quiz If you do not have a device, take out a sheet of paper and follow along with me 9/1 Reading Quiz

What stops others from taking state power away?

Sovereignty and Legitimacy State sovereignty is the ability of the state to be independent and have autonomy and control over itself and its decisions.  The word sovereign means autonomous, or independent. In political science, legitimacy is the right and acceptance of an authority, usually a governing law or a régime.

Sources of Legitimacy Religious – Divine Right of Kings Absolute Power – Monarchy or Dictator Through the use of force Consent of the governed – Social Contract Theory Written Laws – Constitutions Through the Rule of Law

Why the Rule of Law Matters? The Rule of Law is in place as long as everyone must answer to the law equally If a leader is not subject to the law, the rule of law in that state is weak

So are the sources of power in our case studies legitimate? Over the next 2 weeks, we will review legitimacy and rule of law in the US and our 6 case studies We will start with the US and in preparation you need to read the following: US Declaration of Independence US Constitution and Amendments Wilson Chapter 2 – “The Constitution”