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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Special Election set for December to fill seat vacated by former State Rep. Elizabeth Dennigan: http://ow.ly/thtR
wpri12Dan (Dan) Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:30:02 -0000
Special Election set for December to fill seat vacated by former State Rep. Elizabeth Dennigan: http://ow.ly/thtR
Special Election set for December to fill seat vacated by former State Rep. Elizabeth Dennigan: http://ow.ly/thtN
wpri12 (wpri12) Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:30:02 -0000
Special Election set for December to fill seat vacated by former State Rep. Elizabeth Dennigan: http://ow.ly/thtN
got pulled by a state trooper doing 115mph and let go with out a ticket :) ... http://lnk.ms/1V1YZ
Lucidmotions (Lucidmotions) Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:28:36 -0000
got pulled by a state trooper doing 115mph and let go with out a ticket :) ... http://lnk.ms/1V1YZ
State Farm does rock. i dont care what anyone says. i know thousands of people who have been helped by state farm. a couple of things
ShannonVirant (Shannon Virant) Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:28:11 -0000
State Farm does rock. i dont care what anyone says. i know thousands of people who have been helped by state farm. a couple of things <cont>
Questions Raised About Spending By Indonesia’s State-Owned Enterprises http://bit.ly/2X9lxw
thejakartaglobe (The Jakarta Globe) Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:24:50 -0000
Questions Raised About Spending By Indonesia’s State-Owned Enterprises http://bit.ly/2X9lxw
State House Dems vote to pass a 'shell bill' to raise MI Business Tax by $116M is a cowardly replay of 2007 sales tax on services.
rstudley (Rich Studley) Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:24:18 -0000
State House Dems vote to pass a 'shell bill' to raise MI Business Tax by $116M is a cowardly replay of 2007 sales tax on services.

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