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Statehood and by extension society is pretty much defined by the "monopoly on violence" [1]. As much as I dislike it, it is a pretty much a law of physics, if y
by SigmundA 9y ago
Statehood and by extension society is pretty much defined by the "monopoly on violence" [1]. As much as I dislike it, it is a pretty much a law of physics, if you you don't have a monopoly on violence someone else will, some one must wield it, power vacuums will be filled.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly_on_violence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopoly_on_violence
- em3rgent0rdr 9y agoYet in international relations there is no monopoly on violence. So maybe it isn't a law of physics?
- SigmundA 9y ago"However, this monopoly is limited to a certain geographical area, and in fact this limitation to a particular area is one of the things that defines a state." International relations is a manifestation of multiple monopolies on violence in different geographic areas interacting. They either find some sort of equilibrium for a period of time or they war and new boundaries are defined. The law of physics statement was hyperbole, but my point is anarchy doesn't last, it is quickly replaced with a monopoly of violence, because it has to be.