Author Question: What are the features associated with the modern state. What will be an ideal ... (Read 36 times)

ghost! · **on:** Jul 8, 2018

What are the features associated with the modern state.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

What are the consequences of late state formation?

What will be an ideal response?

amcvicar · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 8, 2018

Answer to Question 1

The modern state is associated with the following:
1. A decline in the legitimacy of traditional forms of political authority such as the rule of a charismatic authority figure, inherited leadership, or religious authority, and an increase in the legitimacy of depersonalized, public governance based on the rule of law.
2. An increase in the central government's sovereignty over carefully delineated territory and a decline of decentralized and overlapping forms of sovereignty such as the traditional system of feudalism.
3. An increase in the organizational complexity of central-government institutions.

Answer to Question 2

The tendency for newer states to be weaker has important political, social, and economic consequences. In weaker states, the rulers, the institutions of government, and even the form of government, whether democratic or not, lack both authority and legitimacy. Irrespective of who is in charge, citizens are less likely to obey the laws, pay their taxes, or contribute to the resolution of the society's numerous collective action problems. In some new states, the central government is so weak that it must compete with other groups for monopoly of violenceas in contemporary Somalia, for example. State weakness can, thus, result in a proliferation of armed groups outside the control of state security forces, corruption, civil conflict, and trafficking in drugs, weapons, and even humans. State weakness often becomes a vicious circle, with weakness breeding more weakness. An inability to control crime and corruption means tax evasion is high, economic investment is low, and government provision of services minimal. In such a situation, even public-spirited political leaders have few options. In the contemporary world, states that were born weak face numerous problems.