The State: Past, Present, FutureDebates about the role and nature of the state are at the heart of modern politics. However, the state itself remains notoriously difficult to define, and the term is subject to a range of different interpretations. In this book, distinguished state theorist Bob Jessop provides a critical introduction to the state as both a concept and a reality. He lucidly guides readers through all the major accounts of the state, and examines competing efforts to relate the state to other features of social organization. Essential themes in the analysis of the state are explored in full, including state formation, periodization, the re-scaling of the state and the state's future. Throughout, Jessop clearly defines key terms, from hegemony and coercion to government and governance. He also analyses what we mean when we speak about 'normal' and 'exceptional' states, and states that are 'failed' or 'rogue'. Combining an accessible style with expert sensitivity to the complexities of the state, this short introduction will be core reading for students and scholars of politics and sociology, as well as anyone interested in the changing role of the state in contemporary societies. |
Contents
1 | |
The State as Concept Relation and Reality | 13 |
On Territory Apparatus and Population | 121 |
Past and Present Futures of the State | 187 |
Notes | 250 |
257 | |
290 | |
292 | |
EULA | 305 |
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Common terms and phrases
accumulation action administrative analysis apparatus approach articulation balance of forces basis bloc boundaries capacities capital accumulation capitalist capitalist societies capitalist type chapter civil society class domination collibration complex concept conjunctures constitution context coordination corporatism crises democratic differential accumulation distinctive economic and political emergency European Union Eurozone exceptional regimes exercise failure focus Fordism formal functions global global cities governance Gramsci hegemonic hegemonic visions hierarchy historical identity ideological imaginaries institutionalized integration interests intervention involves Jessop kleptocracy labour legitimacy liberal democracy linked Marxist mass media Max Weber meta-governance modern modes nation-state national territorial neoliberal networks Nicos Poulantzas nomic organization overall particular party system political power political regimes population Poulantzas problems projects reflected representation role scale social forces social formation social relations sociospatial sovereign sovereignty space spatial spatiotemporal fixes specific state’s statehood statism strategic–relational strategies structural struggles temporal tion tional unity wider world market world society