Type author names here

Week 2. Political Philosophy 1:

State and Power

Fall 2023
Jeonghyeon Kim, Ph.D.

© Oxford University Press 2023

Today’s plan

I. State
• Types
• Theories
II. Power
• Definition
• Dimensions

Garner, Ferdinand, & Lawson: Introduction to Politics 5e

 I. What is the state?

• Classic definition:
‘A monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force in
enforcing its order within a given territorial area (Max Weber
1864–1920).’

-> Therefore, thief concept is inextricably linked with

sovereignty.

• Sovereignty: the highest form of authority within a

given territory.

Garner, Ferdinand, & Lawson: Introduction to Politics 5e

A classification of states
• Night-watchman, or minimal state:
- concentrates on ensuring order and security.
- plays little role in civil society and the economy since they are allowed to operate relatively
unhindered.
- has a protective role of individuals against external and internal threats.
- influenced by classical liberal

• Developmental state:
- acts in partnership with private industry in order to ensure rapid economic development.

• Liberal democracies:
- Characterized by free and fair elections involving universal suffrage
- Have a relatively high degree of personal liberty and the protection of individual rights.

• Social democratic state:

- Has a broader social and political objective.
- Tries to secure goals, such as equality of opportunity, through state intervention in areas like
education.

Garner, Ferdinand, & Lawson: Introduction to Politics 5e

 A classification of states

• Illiberal democracies:
– Elections are held, but they are usually not meaningful.
– opposition leaders and parties are disadvantaged.
– Relatively few transfers of power through elections and leaders.

• Authoritarian states:
– absence of fair elections and accountability of political rulers.
– opposition parties are either banned or subjected to severe limitations.

• One party states:

– Elections only take place between candidates from the same party
– the state and the government are indistinguishable

• Totalitarian states:
– The government tries to extinguish all sources of opposition and to control the whole of
society often through a brutal and oppressive state police.

Garner, Ferdinand, & Lawson: Introduction to Politics 5e

Does it still make sense to talk of state sovereignty?

• Globalization: The view that the world has become so

economically and politically interdependent that there is little
room for for nation-state.
– As a result of greater interdependence, improved communication
technology, and the mergence of global problems, supranational institutions
emerged to challenges the power of states.

• Cosmopolitanism: the goal of achieving peace, toleration,

justice, and a form of global citizenship in a world where we owe
our allegiances to humanity

Q. Do globalization and cosmopolitanism present a threat

to the autonomy of the nation-state?

Garner, Ferdinand, & Lawson: Introduction to Politics 5e

 The contemporary state

• Due to‘ globalization’ — governments across the

world find it more difficult to carry out their
‘traditional’ functions.
• In many countries, ‘government’ has been replaced
by ‘ governance’ — instead of issuing commands,
the state has to strike bargains with other powerful
players, at home and abroad.

Garner, Ferdinand, & Lawson: Introduction to Politics 5e

Theories of the state

• Politics is…
• Theories of the state centres on the
distribution of power. It describe the power
structures in different societies.

1. Pluralism
2. Elitism
3. Marxism

Garner, Ferdinand, & Lawson: Introduction to Politics 5e

 Theories of the state: Pluralism

In its basic form, pluralism:

• asserts that the competition between groups is a good thing.

• consider the state as a neutral ‘judge’ between different groups; its role is
to regulate and mediate between the groups.

• It is important to note that pluralists are not saying that all groups or
interests are equal; there are no predominant classes or interests within
society, that all groups are able to make their voices heard in the political
process.

• presumes that some groups will ‘win’ specific debates, but that across
the whole field of policy-making there will be many different ‘winners.’

• Power in society for pluralists is diffused or fragmented.

Garner, Ferdinand, & Lawson: Introduction to Politics 5e

Theories of the state: Pluralism

• Classical pluralism:
Ø Society is made up of numerous groups, all of which compete freely and fairly
for the attention of impartial governments. No one group holds a dominant
position; different groups are influential in different policy areas.

• ‘Neo-pluralism’:
Ø Some groups are more advantaged than others, so competition is not entirely
free or fair. Governments are not neutral ‘judge’; they have interests of their
own.
Ø Neo-pluralists accept that powerful elites do exist, but that meaningful
competition for political influence still exists.

• Both versions are integral to liberal democratic theory.

• Neo-pluralism can be seen as more ‘realistic’ than the classical version and is a
response to criticisms of the original model.

Garner, Ferdinand, & Lawson: Introduction to Politics 5e

 Theories of the state: Elitism

• Tends to argue that competition between different groups detracts

from quality of government.

• Considers that government is biased towards certain groups; power is

concentrated in the hands of powerful elites, dominating the economic,
military, and governmental spheres.

• Accepts that dominant groups (e.g. political elites or those with the
greatest economic power) will tend to prevail across the spectrum of
policy-making and control political parties or interest groups.

Garner, Ferdinand, & Lawson: Introduction to Politics 5e

Theories of the state: Elitism

• Democratic elitism accepts democratic competition, but sees this as a

battle between different elites.
– There are a multiplicity of competing elites; Political elites have divided interests and
compete with each other to achieve their aims.
– Politics may be hierarchical rather than one homogenous elite group.

• Corporatism accept that certain groups(economic elites) are bound to

prevail, and that the task of government is to devise policies after
consultation between these powerful groups (e.g. trade unions and
employers’ organizations).
– Government outputs are a product of a tripartite relationship between elites in
government, business, and the trade unions.
– The corporatists model can be applied to authoritarian states, particularly in Asia.
– In such circumstances, democratic participation is at best an irrelevant distraction.

Garner, Ferdinand, & Lawson: Introduction to Politics 5e

 Theories of the state: Marxism

• Materialism
o What you have is what you think. Ideology is determined by
the material base. Class consciousness is shaped by your
economic status.
o The Marxist view on state is that it only manages affairs in
the interests of bourgeoisie.
o The proletarian class, therefore, should not support it.
o The antagonism between the bourgeoisie and proletarians
can only be overcome in a classless society based on
consensus and cooperation.

Bourgeoisie

Proletarians

Garner, Ferdinand, & Lawson: Introduction to Politics 5e

Theories of the state: Marxism

• Historical determinism/materialism
- The Marxist interpretation of history in terms of the class
struggle

Primitive Ancient Medieval Communism

Capitalism /utopian
Communism Slave sys. Feudal sys
socialism

Garner, Ferdinand, & Lawson: Introduction to Politics 5e