Sovereignty, Authority, and Power PDF

2.3 Sovereignty, Authority, and Power ===================================== Describe the sources of state power ----------------------------------- **Power** is the ability to make someone do something they would not otherwise do. - **Sources of Power** - - - - **China** - -...

2.3 Sovereignty, Authority, and Power ===================================== Describe the sources of state power ----------------------------------- **Power** is the ability to make someone do something they would not otherwise do. - **Sources of Power** - - - - **China** - - **Iran** - **Russia** - States use power and authority to maintain sovereignty **Authority** is the legitimate power a state has over the people within its territory. Explain how states use power and authority to maintain sovereignty ------------------------------------------------------------------ **Eternal sovereignty** - **Internal sovereignty** - - - - - Both authoritarian and democratic governments claim the right to use force to ensure their internal and external sovereignty. **Coercion**: use of force, or the threat of force, to get someone to do something they would not otherwise do. \#sovereignty does not mean a state is all-powerful. And it exists on a spectrum. **Key summaries:** - - - ***Drawbacks of using force to maintain sovereignty*** *Some drawbacks for a state in using force against citizens in an effort to maintain sovereignty might be losing popular support, which can be a source of power. This might contribute to erosion of legitimacy overtime and trigger some internal backlash. Force might also lead to civil unrest and instability of the society. Externally, nations may view this as a sign of weakness and harm to its international reputation and leading to loss of foreign investment.* ***Difference of sources of authority between democratic and authoritarian regimes*** *Sources of authority in democratic countries and authoritarian regimes are different. While both regimes have constitutions (mentioned above), democratic countries rely more on popular support and elections while civil participation does not matter in some of the authoritarian countries (since they simply can't participate as they can not vote). Authoritarian states rely more on military power and control over key institutions to maintain sovereignty. It also establishes power through the cult of personality and Ideology.* 2.4 Legitimacy and Stability ============================ Describe sources of legitimacy ------------------------------ **Legitimacy**: citizens' belief that the government has the right to rule. - - Sources of legitimacy are the [same] for democratic and authoritarian states (some claim more than one source) - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Explain how states maintain legitimacy -------------------------------------- Sociologist Max Weber describes three types of legitimacy: 1. a. b. 2. c. d. e. 3. f. g. h. i. States combine them - **Stability** - - Factors - - - - - - - - - **Key summaries:** - - - ***Why are some states better than others at maintaining sovereignty and legitimacy?*** *The difference in military economic power contributes to their difference in political efficacy and sovereignty. Other than practical elements, free and fair elections, well-established legal systems and political participation also contribute to increasing legitimacy of a state's rule. Cultural factors such as using traditions, religion, nationalism or even the leader's personality can also be important in increasing legitimacy.*