A state is a set of institutions that possess the power to make the rules that govern the people in one or more societies, having internal and external sovereignty over a definite territory. Following Max Weber's influential definition, a state has a 'monopoly on legitimate violence'. Hence the state includes such institutions as the armed forces, civil service or state bureaucracy, courts, and police. For theorists of international relations, recognition of the state's claim to independence by other states, enabling it to enter into international engagements, is key to the establishment of its sovereignty.

Although the term often refers broadly to all institutions of government or rule—ancient and modern—the modern state system bears a number of characteristics that were first consolidated in western Europe, beginning in earnest in the 15th century.

In the late 20th century, the globalization of the world economy, the mobility of people and capital, and the rise of many international institutions all combined to circumscribe the freedom of action of states. However, the state remains the basic political unit of the world, as it has been since the 16th century. The state is therefore considered the most central concept in the study of politics, and its definition is the subject of intense scholarly debate. Political sociologists in the tradition of both Karl Marx and Max Weber usually favor a broad definition that draws attention to the role of coercive apparatus.

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John Q. Hammons Names New Courtyard by Marriott(R) Dallas — Allen Executive Team in Lone Star State: in 150,000.. http://bit.ly/3O0IfW
MadisonBlog (Madison) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:09:27 -0000
John Q. Hammons Names New Courtyard by Marriott(R) Dallas — Allen Executive Team in Lone Star State: in 150,000.. http://bit.ly/3O0IfW
RT @Big12Conference: Oklahoma State All-America receiver Dez Bryant has lost his final appeal to be reinstated by the NCAA this season.
clark1pantel (Clark Pantel) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:09:15 -0000
RT @Big12Conference: Oklahoma State All-America receiver Dez Bryant has lost his final appeal to be reinstated by the NCAA this season.
John Q. Hammons Names New Courtyard by Marriott(R) Dallas — Allen Executive Team in Lone Star State: in 150,000.. http://bit.ly/3O0IfW
EllaBlog (Ella) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:09:12 -0000
John Q. Hammons Names New Courtyard by Marriott(R) Dallas — Allen Executive Team in Lone Star State: in 150,000.. http://bit.ly/3O0IfW
John Q. Hammons Names New Courtyard by Marriott(R) Dallas — Allen Executive Team in Lone Star State: in 150,000.. http://bit.ly/3O0IfW
LilyBlog (Lily) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:08:52 -0000
John Q. Hammons Names New Courtyard by Marriott(R) Dallas — Allen Executive Team in Lone Star State: in 150,000.. http://bit.ly/3O0IfW
John Q. Hammons Names New Courtyard by Marriott(R) Dallas — Allen Executive Team in Lone Star State: in 150,000.. http://bit.ly/3O0IfW
OliviaBlog (Olivia) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:08:13 -0000
John Q. Hammons Names New Courtyard by Marriott(R) Dallas — Allen Executive Team in Lone Star State: in 150,000.. http://bit.ly/3O0IfW
John Q. Hammons Names New Courtyard by Marriott(R) Dallas — Allen Executive Team in Lone Star State: in 150,000.. http://bit.ly/3O0IfW
LaurenBlog (Lauren) Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:07:28 -0000
John Q. Hammons Names New Courtyard by Marriott(R) Dallas — Allen Executive Team in Lone Star State: in 150,000.. http://bit.ly/3O0IfW

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