The State

A central concept in political theory referring to the organized political community with sovereignty over a territory and people. In the sources, it is characterized variously as evolving institutional forms (from nightwatchman to regulated society), as domination combined with the consent of the ruled, as an equilibrium between coercive political society and hegemonic civil society, and as the activity of ruling classes securing the consent of the governed.

Claims that use this term

• The State evolves from government to nightwatchman to regulated society
• The State is domination plus the active consent of the ruled
• The State is an equilibrium between coercive political society and hegemonic civil society
• The State is defined by ruling-class activity that secures the consent of the ruled