Állam és erőszak
State and Violence

Summary/Abstract: Although the relationship between state and violence had taken various forms in the course of history, it is certain that the development of the modern state is intimately linked to monopolisation of violence. Those who lay the down the foundations of the theory of this monopolisation, such as Hobbes, Weber or Elias, agreed that the evolution of state monopoly on violence is a process that has neither a clear starting point nor foreseeable end. The process is a distinct one due to the fact that seemingly state and statehood are closely intertwined. However, this view has been fundamentally challenged by the privatisation of violence that takes place either as a bottom-up or a top-down process depending on the economic potential and political tradition of states. The monopolisation of violence might be temporarily halted, but it cannot be definitely reversed. States might delegate some of their competences to market actors and to international organisations, but they cannot get rid of the responsibility.

• Details
• Contents