State-led reform and national wars dominate the formation of modern states

Evidence

So you see, with analyses like this we obviously have, first, the elimination of war’s function as an analyzer of historico-political processes, or at least its strict curtailment. War is now no more than an ephemeral and instrumental aspect of confrontations which are not of a warlike nature. Second, the essential element is no longer the relationship of domination that exists between one nation and another or one group and another; the fundamental relationship is the State. — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 251 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

There is a fourth institutional dimension to be distinguished: control of the means of violence. Military power was always a central feature of pre-modern civilisations. Yet in those civilisations the political centre was never able for long to secure stable military support and typically fell short of securing a monopoly control of the means of violence within its territories. The military strength of the ruling authorities depended upon alliances with local princes or warlords, who were always liable either to break away from or directly to challenge the ruling groups. The successful monopoly of the means of violence within territorially precise borders is distinctive to the modern state. So also is the existence of specific links to industrialism, permeating both the organisation of the military and the weaponry at their disposal. The “industrialisation of war” radically changes the character of warfare, ushering in an era of “total war” and later the nuclear age. — Anthony Giddens, The Consequences of Modernity, 155 (#qualifies, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Modern European states formed through reform waves rather than revolution; The State-model history subordinates war and domination to the State. — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 251; Armies composed of mercenaries and marginals predate modern states (+4 more)

Related

• The State-model history subordinates war and domination to the State. (similarity 0.85)
• A modern state is an institutionalized division of political labor (similarity 0.83)
• War of position replaced war of movement in modern democratic politics (similarity 0.83)
• Modern European states formed through reform waves rather than revolution (similarity 0.83)
• Monopoly of violence within precise borders is distinctive to the modern state (similarity 0.83)
• The overall balance of forces imposes the form of war (similarity 0.82)
• The state’s raison d’être is security against the natural equality of potential murderers (similarity 0.80)
• Agrarian states never achieved the internal pacification of modern states (similarity 0.78)

Broader Connections

• The State-model history subordinates war and domination to the State. #corroborates (0.85) — Michel Foucault, Society Must Be Defended, 251
• The overall balance of forces imposes the form of war #corroborates (0.80)
• Monopoly of violence within precise borders is distinctive to the modern state #qualifies (0.80) — Anthony Giddens, The Consequences of Modernity, 155
• Armies composed of mercenaries and marginals predate modern states #complicates (0.75)
• War of position replaced war of movement in modern democratic politics #expands (0.75)