Traditional debates in political science about states and governments have focussed on fairly abstract definitions, usually starting from Max Weber's definition of the state as a “human community that (successfully) claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.”

Paul suggests this is clearly inadequate to discussing modern states and in any case is a simplification of what Weber actually said.

Join us for what was, for me anyway, a fascinating discussion with one of the UK's top public policy academics.

https://policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/states-and-welfare-states