Political Evolution and State Sovereignty

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Questions and Answers

What was a significant outcome of the Peace of Westphalia?

It established the principle of national sovereignty. (correct)

It marked the end of the Renaissance period.

It enforced religious uniformity across Europe.

It initiated the process of European integration.

Which of the following best describes Weber's types of legitimacy as mentioned by Garner?

Traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal. (correct)

Political, economic, and social.

Social contract, divine right, and direct democracy.

Federal, unitary, and confederal.

How did the reasons for obeying the state evolve around the 17th century?

Citizens started to see the state as a protector of rights and freedoms. (correct)

Allegiance to monarchs was replaced by allegiance to political parties.

Obedience shifted from economic benefits to cultural identity.

People began to obey due to fear of punishment rather than loyalty.

What does Tilly mean by 'war made the state and the state made war'?

States are formed through conflicts and in turn, engage in wars to maintain power. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following are considered core features of the modern European state?

Defined territory, sovereign government, recognition by other states, and a permanent population. Signup and view all the answers

What significant event challenged the unity of the EU?

Brexit Signup and view all the answers

What principle established state sovereignty in 1648?

Principle of non-interference Signup and view all the answers

Which countries have questioned the primacy of EU legislation?

Hungary and Poland Signup and view all the answers

What transformation in political authority occurred due to the Enlightenment?

State authority became independent from external actors Signup and view all the answers

How did the role of the state change from the 17th to the 19th century?

It transformed into a powerful driver of development Signup and view all the answers

What are the three types of legitimacy discussed regarding the state's right to rule?

Traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal Signup and view all the answers

What is a result of tensions between national and supranational levels within the EU?

Reinforcement of national sovereignty Signup and view all the answers

What historical event marked the beginning of modern state sovereignty?

Peace of Westphalia Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a unitary state in terms of power distribution?

Most power is concentrated at the national level. Signup and view all the answers

How is sovereignty structured in federal states?

Sovereignty is shared between central and regional institutions. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main characteristics of a central government in a federal state?

It shares power with regional governments. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of states, what does 'legitimacy' refer to?

The acceptance and recognition of a government’s authority. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a federal state from a unitary state?

Federal states possess dual sovereignty. Signup and view all the answers

What event is often associated with the end of World War I and the principle of self-determination?

Woodrow Wilson's 14 points Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a criterion for defining a state according to the Montevideo Convention?

A history of conflict Signup and view all the answers

What is a defining characteristic of sovereignty in modern states?

External recognition by other states Signup and view all the answers

According to Max Weber, what does a state possess that defines its authority?

The monopoly of legitimate violence Signup and view all the answers

What type of authority is characterized by the personality of the ruler?

Charismatic authority Signup and view all the answers

What principle did the unification of Germany and Italy contribute to in the 19th century?

The rise of sovereign nation-states Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes rational-legal authority?

It is governed by a system of collectively agreed rules. Signup and view all the answers

According to Charles Tilly's famous quote, what is the relationship between war and the state?

War made the state and the state made war. Signup and view all the answers

What role does a state have in providing societal needs?

Collecting taxes and regulating laws Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following multinational empires faced dismemberment as a result of World War I?

Habsburg Empire Signup and view all the answers

Which development was a significant outcome of the French Revolution?

Taxation for all citizens. Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the ability of a state to act independently within its territory?

Sovereignty Signup and view all the answers

What is a central tenet of nationalism as a political ideology?

Every nation must have its own state for political representation. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of modern states, what does the bureaucracy ensure?

Meritocratic and goal-oriented governance. Signup and view all the answers

How does nationalism serve as a counterbalance to Enlightenment ideals?

By emphasizing the existence of distinct nations organized by ethnicity. Signup and view all the answers

What key issue did many groups in 19th century Europe face regarding nationalism?

They did not have an independent state to represent them. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Lecture 4: The Challenge of Sovereignty

The lecture focuses on the making of the European nation-state.
The Peace of Westphalia (1648) is crucial to understanding state sovereignty, establishing the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of independent states.
Key questions include the importance of the Peace of Westphalia, how Garner describes Weber's three types of legitimacy, how reasons for obeying the state changed in the 17th century, Tilly's concept of "war made the state and the state made war", the definition of a nation-state, the four core features of the modern European state, the two main functions of the modern state, and the differences between unitary, federal and confederal states.
Readings are from Hirst (Chapter 9) and Garner & Lawson (pp. 53-54 and 173-178).

European Values

European values are linked to humanism and the enlightenment
Key values include: Rationality, Individualism, Secularism, Equality, Democracy, Human Rights, Freedom and Human Dignity.

Political Challenges

The lecture outlines various political challenges including the challenge of religion, sovereignty, checking power, unchecked power and accurate representation, and fair representation, and freedom beyond the state.

Challenge of Battling Sovereignties

The EU is composed of various sovereign national states.
Brexit challenged EU unity.
Hungary and Poland questioned EU legislation primacy.
Border checks were reintroduced.
Opt-outs and tensions between national and supranational levels are prevalent.

Time Frame

A timeline visualises the evolution of Europe from the middle of the 17th Century (1648) to the present day, including periods like the Middle Ages, Classical antiquity, Early modern Europe, Modern Europe, and the period of the European Union and its enlargement.

The Rise of the Sovereign National State

The enlightenment period played a key role both in ideas and political realities.
Map visuals depict the evolution of European political geography over time.

Peace of Westphalia

The Peace of Westphalia (1648) marked a major turning point in European politics, establishing state sovereignty.
Important details about the agreements, and their impact on the international system, especially the concept of state sovereignty, are highlighted.
Prior to this, political authority was often contested by external actors like the Pope or the Holy Roman Emperor.

Why Obey the State? Three Types of Legitimacy

Legitimacy is the right to rule.
Max Weber distinguished three types of authority: traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal.
Traditional authority is based on tradition and customs.
Charismatic authority rests on the personal qualities of the ruler.
Rational-legal authority relies on collectively agreed rules.

"War Made the State and the State Made War."

The quote by historian Charles Tilly highlights the crucial link between state formation and warfare.
The need for states to raise funds for armies drove changes in taxation and administration (bureaucracy).
The rise of a bureaucracy, as an impersonal, meritocratic, and goal-oriented system of administration, is a key aspect of modern states.
The French Revolution transformed the state's relationship with citizens, with taxation for all citizens and a modern mass army in the service of the nation.

The Power of Nationalism

Nationalism, as a political ideology, countered the Enlightenment idea of all humans being the same.
It views humans as naturally organized into nations defined by features like ethnicity, language, religion, history, and rituals.
In the 19th century, many groups/nations in Europe lacked their own state.

The State: Definition

The Montevideo Convention (1933) defines a state as a geographic territory with an identifiable population, a government, and international recognition.

Sovereignty

The sovereign is the ultimate decision-maker within a state.
In democracies, the people are the sovereign.
Modern states possess sovereignty, allowing them to act independently within their territories, free from internal or external rivals.
There are internal and external aspects to sovereignty.

What Does the State Do?

The state protects its territory and population, exercising a monopoly on legitimate violence.
It provides collective goods via various institutions like those focused on law, regulation, taxation, and infrastructure.
This requires leadership; this is the government, a part of the state.

Unitary and Federal States

Comparing unitary and federal states emphasizes distinctions in power distribution between central and regional governments
- Unitary states are led by a central government.
- Federal states share power between central and regional governments.

Comparing Governments

Different types of government structures are contrasted; including unitary, federal, and confederal.
Illustrative maps are provided.

Separatist Movements in Europe

There is a section, or visual, on separatist movements in Europe.

Concepts

Key concepts from the lecture are summarized, including Peace of Westphalia, Sovereignty, the Nation-State, Nationalism, Legitimacy, types of authority(Weber's traditional, charismatic and legal-rational), unitary and federal states.

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Description

Explore the transformations in state sovereignty and legitimacy from the 17th to the 19th century in this quiz. Test your understanding of significant outcomes from the Peace of Westphalia, the core features of modern European states, and the impacts of the Enlightenment on political authority. Dive into the dynamics between national and supranational levels within the EU.