For realists, the state is the main actor and sovereignty…
““For realists, the state is the main actor and sovereignty is its distinguishing trait. The meaning of the sovereign state is inextricably bound up with the use of force. In terms of its internal dimension, to illustrate this relationship between violence and the state we need to look no further than Max Weber’s famous definition of the state as ‘the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory’(M. J. Smith 1986: 23).3 Within this territorial space, sovereignty means that the state has supreme authority to make and enforce laws. This is the basis of the unwritten contract between individuals and the state. According to Hobbes, for example, we trade our liberty in return for a guarantee of security. Once security has been established, civil society can begin. But in the absence of security, there can be no art, no culture, no society. The first move, then, for the realist is to organize power domestically. Only after power has been organized, can community begin.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Realist theory sees the state as a sovereign force using legitimate violence; security enables civil society and culture.
In simple terms: State holds monopoly on force, providing security for society.
Key Takeaway
Understand the role of state authority in societal order.
Themes
politics
sovereignty
state
security
society
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
Civil society:1
Cybersecurity:0
Freedom:0
Sovereignty:1
Sovereignty means:0
Use of force:1
Max Weber:0
Sovereign State:1
Sovereignty Distinguishing:0
Realists State:1
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- academic study
Key Concepts
realism
political theory
law
Questions to Reflect On
- Is security always justified by state force?
- How does this view affect individual freedoms?