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The Autonomous Power of The State
The Autonomous Power of The State
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to European Journal of Sociology / Archives Européennes de Sociologie / Europäisches Archiv
für Soziologie
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Arch, europ. sociol., XXV (1984), 185-213 — 0003-9756/84/0000-483 $02.50 © 1934 A.F.S.
Apart from the last phrase which tends to equate the state with
military force (see below), I will follow this definition. It is still
something of a mixed bag. It contains a predominant institutional
element : states can be recognised by the central location of their
differentiated institutions. Yet it also contains a 'functional' element :
the essence of the state's functions is a monopoly of binding rule
making. Nevertheless, my principal interest lies in those central
ised institutions generally called 'states', and in the powers of the
personnel who staff them, at the higher levels generally termed the
'state elite'. The central question for us here, then, is what is the
nature of the power possessed by states and state elites ? In answer
ing I shall contrast state elites with power groupings whose base
lies outside the state, in 'civil society'. In line with the model of
power underlying my work, I divide these into three : ideological,
economic, and military groups. So what, therefore, is the power
of state elites as against the power of ideological movements, economic
classes, and military elites ?
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
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