Politics as a Vocation

• The state is a human community that successfully claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.
• Politics is striving to share power or striving to influence the distribution of power, whether among states or among groups within a state.
• Power is the chance of a man or a number of men to realize their own will in a communal action even against the resistance of others who are participating in the action.
• Domination is the probability that certain specific commands (or all commands) will be obeyed by a given group of persons.
• Discipline is the probability that by virtue of habituation a command will receive prompt and automatic obedience in stereotyped forms.

Types of Legitimate Domination

• Legal domination rests on a legality belief of enacted rules and the authority of those elevated to issue commands under such rules.
• Traditional domination relies on established belief in the sanctity of traditions and the legitimacy of those exercising authority.
• Charismatic domination is based on devotion to an individual's exceptional sanctity, heroism, or exemplary character and the revealed normative patterns.
• States exist through provision of public goods (services benefiting all community members without exclusion).
• States need revenue to provide public goods.
• Taxation is necessary for states to survive.
• States need to be able to defend their territory.

The Modern State System

• The Treaty of Westphalia (1648) marks the beginning, ending Europe's Thirty Years' War.
• Westphalian Sovereignty: Each state possesses exclusive control over its territory.
• States vary in autonomy (ability to wield power independently) and capacity (ability to carry out basic tasks).
• High autonomy and high capacity mean a state can act independently and implement policies effectively.
• High autonomy and low capacity indicates a state can act independently but struggles to implement policies.
• Low autonomy and high capacity mean a state can implement policies but cannot act independently.
• Low autonomy and low capacity means a state can neither act independently nor implement policies effectively.
• Regime: The fundamental rules and norms of politics.
• A democratic regime is a political system where power is exercised directly/indirectly by the people.
• A non-democratic regime is a political system where power isn't exercised directly/indirectly by the people.
• Liberal democracy: A political system promoting participation, competition, liberty, individual freedom, and civil rights.
• Authoritarianism: A political system where a small group exercises power without constitutional responsibility to the public.
• Totalitarianism: A political system where the state attempts to control all aspects of life.
• Institutions are organizations or activities that are self-perpetuating and valued.
• State: The organization maintaining a monopoly of violence over a territory.
• Nation: A group desiring self-government through an independent state.
• Citizenship: An individual's relationship to the state, with allegiance sworn and rights provided in return.
• Nationalism: Pride in one's people and belief in their unique political destiny.
• Patriotism: Pride in one's state and citizenship.
• Political culture: The basic norms for political activity in a society.
• Political ideology: A set of values held by individuals regarding the fundamental goals of politics.
• Liberalism prioritizes individual political and economic freedom.
• Communism rejects the idea that personal freedom ensures prosperity for the majority.
• Social democracy supports private property/markets but believes the state has a strong role managing the economy and providing benefits.
• Fascism stresses a low degree of both individual freedom and equality to achieve a powerful state.
• An institution is an organization or activity that is self-perpetuating and valued for its own sake.
• Political economy: The study of how politics and economics relate, and how their relationship shapes freedom and equality.
• Markets: Interaction between supply and demand that allocates resources.
• Property: Goods or services owned by an individual or group.
• Public goods: Services benefiting all community members, with no one excluded.
• Social expenditure: State provision of public benefits like education, health care, and transportation.
• Gross domestic product (GDP): The total value of goods and services produced in a country in one year.
• Hyperinflation: Inflation exceeding 50% per month for over two months.
• Democracy: Political power exercised directly/indirectly through participation, competition, and liberty.
• Modernization theory: Societies develop, become more modern/capitalist, and ultimately more democratic.
• Elites: Individuals or groups holding political power.
• Civil society: Organizations outside the state help people define and advance interests.
• Political violence: Politically motivated violence outside state control.
• Revolution: Public seizure of the state to overturn the existing government and regime.
• Terrorism: Use of violence by nonstate actors against civilians to achieve a political goal.
• Developed democracies: Countries with institutionalized democracy and high economic development.
• Integration: States pool sovereignty, surrendering individual powers for greater economic and political unity.
• Devolution: Political power is sent down to lower levels of state and government.
• Postmodern values: Values that emphasize quality of life over material gain.
• Postindustrialism: Shift from economic growth/employment centered on industry to services.
• Welfare state: A state providing a wide array of social services to its citizens.
• Rule of law: A system where all individuals/groups, including government, are subject to the law, irrespective of power/authority.
• Social cleavages: Divisions in society based on religion, ethnicity, race, social class, etc.

This content explores Max Weber's definition of the state, politics, power, and domination. It also discusses the three pure types of legitimate domination: legal, traditional, and charismatic.