Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the most general statement that can be made about the autonomous power of the state?
What is the most general statement that can be made about the autonomous power of the state?
- States are only found in capitalist democracies.
- States are central to our understanding of what a society is. (correct)
- States are inherently despotic.
- States are weak and decentralized.
What is meant by the term 'despotic power' of the state elite?
What is meant by the term 'despotic power' of the state elite?
- The range of actions the state elite can undertake without negotiation with civil society groups. (correct)
- The power of civil society groups to influence state decisions.
- The power of the state to penetrate and centrally coordinate civil society.
- The power of the state to implement logistically political decisions.
What is the primary difference between despotic power and infrastructural power?
What is the primary difference between despotic power and infrastructural power?
- Despotic power is the power of the state elite, while infrastructural power is the power of civil society groups.
- Despotic power refers to the state's ability to make decisions, while infrastructural power refers to the state's ability to implement them. (correct)
- Despotic power is a characteristic of capitalist democracies, while infrastructural power is a characteristic of socialist societies.
- Despotic power is more powerful, while infrastructural power is weaker.
Which of the following is NOT an element of the predominant view of the state?
Which of the following is NOT an element of the predominant view of the state?
What is the primary function of the state's infrastructural power?
What is the primary function of the state's infrastructural power?
What is the relationship between strong states and societies?
What is the relationship between strong states and societies?
What is the primary characteristic of the state's autonomy in today's capitalist democracies?
What is the primary characteristic of the state's autonomy in today's capitalist democracies?
What is the relationship between the state's autonomy and its ability to penetrate civil society?
What is the relationship between the state's autonomy and its ability to penetrate civil society?
What is the primary function of the state in terms of setting rules?
What is the primary function of the state in terms of setting rules?
What is the most important precondition of state power?
What is the most important precondition of state power?
What is unique to the state in terms of power mobilization?
What is unique to the state in terms of power mobilization?
What is the result of combining the necessity, multiplicity, and territorial centrality of the state?
What is the result of combining the necessity, multiplicity, and territorial centrality of the state?
What is the focus of Lipset's observation in 1959?
What is the focus of Lipset's observation in 1959?
What is the primary reason why democracies may emerge as countries develop economically?
What is the primary reason why democracies may emerge as countries develop economically?
What is a key task of the state elite, according to the content?
What is a key task of the state elite, according to the content?
What is a characteristic of developmental states?
What is a characteristic of developmental states?
What is a characteristic of the state that distinguishes it from other groups in civil society?
What is a characteristic of the state that distinguishes it from other groups in civil society?
What is a condition that leads to the formation of broad coalitions?
What is a condition that leads to the formation of broad coalitions?
According to Tilly's famous dictum, what is the relationship between war and the state?
According to Tilly's famous dictum, what is the relationship between war and the state?
What is the role of the state in terms of setting rules and maintaining order?
What is the role of the state in terms of setting rules and maintaining order?
What is an example of a popular sector that may receive tangible benefits from ruling elites in exchange for political support or acquiescence?
What is an example of a popular sector that may receive tangible benefits from ruling elites in exchange for political support or acquiescence?
What is a factor that influences institutional development in a state?
What is a factor that influences institutional development in a state?
What is the primary reason why developmental states pursue interventionist policies?
What is the primary reason why developmental states pursue interventionist policies?
What is a condition that contributes to the formation of strong states?
What is a condition that contributes to the formation of strong states?
What do elites face when they are vulnerable?
What do elites face when they are vulnerable?
Why did Lee and Singapore court MNCs?
Why did Lee and Singapore court MNCs?
What was the result of Singapore's unconventional approach?
What was the result of Singapore's unconventional approach?
Who formulated an industrialization program for Singapore?
Who formulated an industrialization program for Singapore?
What were the two preconditions for Singapore's success, according to Winsemius?
What were the two preconditions for Singapore's success, according to Winsemius?
Why is Singapore's middle class reticent about democracy, according to Lam?
Why is Singapore's middle class reticent about democracy, according to Lam?
What was the content of the crash program recommended by Winsemius?
What was the content of the crash program recommended by Winsemius?
What was the significance of Raffles' statue, according to Winsemius?
What was the significance of Raffles' statue, according to Winsemius?
What is the primary reason for the collective leadership feature in China's political system?
What is the primary reason for the collective leadership feature in China's political system?
What is the relationship between the Communist Party and the military in China?
What is the relationship between the Communist Party and the military in China?
What is the role of the National People's Congress in China's political system?
What is the role of the National People's Congress in China's political system?
Why is the Politburo Standing Committee the most powerful decision-making body in China?
Why is the Politburo Standing Committee the most powerful decision-making body in China?
What is the significance of Deng Xiaoping's death in 1997?
What is the significance of Deng Xiaoping's death in 1997?
What is the primary responsibility of each member of the Politburo Standing Committee?
What is the primary responsibility of each member of the Politburo Standing Committee?
What is the relationship between the Communist Party and the state government in China?
What is the relationship between the Communist Party and the state government in China?
What is the significance of China's 1982 state constitution?
What is the significance of China's 1982 state constitution?
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Study Notes
States and their Power
- States are crucial to understanding societies, with strong states leading to territorialized and centralized societies.
- Four main elements of the state:
- Differentiated set of institutions and personnel embodying centrality
- Monopoly of authoritative binding rule-making
- Monopoly of the means of physical violence
- Territorially demarcated area
- Two senses of state power:
- Despotic power: range of actions undertaken by the state elite without negotiation with civil society
- Infrastructural power: capacity of the state to penetrate and centrally coordinate civil society activities
Origins of Autonomous State Power
- Necessity of the state: societies require rules, especially for life and property protection
- Multiplicity of state functions: internal order, military defense, communications infrastructure, economic redistribution
- Territorial centrality of the state: institutional, territorial, and centralized nature
- State power mobilization: necessary for social development and unique to the state
Democracy and Development
- Lipset's observation: democracy is related to economic development
- Two reasons for the relationship:
- Endogenous: democracies emerge as countries develop economically
- Exogenous: democracies are established independently of economic development but survive in developed countries
Developmental States
- Organizational complexes: expert and coherent bureaucratic agencies collaborate with private sectors to spur national economic transformation
- Pursued interventionist policies: combined export promotion with industrial deepening
- Political origins: systemic vulnerability, coalitional commitments, scarce resource endowments, and severe security threats
Singapore's Development
- Rejected conventional wisdom and courted multinational corporations (MNCs) for technology and expertise
- Winsemius team recommended industrialization program: crash program to reduce unemployment and attract foreign investment
- Preconditions for success: rid of Communists and maintain ties with the West
China's Political System
- Collective leadership: seven-member Politburo Standing Committee, each with a rank and primary responsibility for a portfolio
- Designed to guard against excesses of a single leader and emergence of a figure like Mikhail Gorbachev
- People's Liberation Army (PLA): armed wing of the Communist Party, with the Party exercising absolute leadership over the military
- National People's Congress (NPC): unicameral legislature, but weakened by the Communist Party's insistence on serving as a rubber stamp for Party decisions
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