Week 3: Differentiating Government from the State

It is clear that political sociologists have a long list of potential hypotheses that need empirical testing before deciding whether the state survives or is on the decline. Just as Tilly (1985) and Bottomore (1979) contend that the state has not always been the main regulator of power with a monopoly on the legitimate use of force, we see no reason to assume it will always be.
While many of the ideas on the future of the state are theoretical and need empirical verification, what cannot be denied is the importance of political institutions and the ways in which these entities impact every facet of social life. Whether future political sociologists will study the effects and interactions of the nation-state, the transitional state apparatus, or Empire, we expect that there will continue to be rich diversity in both theoretical perspectives and empirical approaches. That diversity will be a direct result of the past and current debates taking place among pluralist, elite, Marxist, and political institutionalists who continue to refine their arguments to overcome weaknesses identified by competing perspectives. Rational choice and postmodern views will also continue to be influential. Future chapters will take a closer look at the impact of the state on our everyday lives, theoretical contributions for understanding other political processes such as voting and other forms of political participation, and the many globalization debates.