Featuring a sweeping array of essays from scholars of state formation and development, this book presents an overview of approaches to studying the history of the state. Focusing on the question of state formation, this volume takes a particular look at the beginnings, structures, and constant reforming of state power. Not only do the contributors draw upon both modernist and postmodernist theoretical perspectives, they also address the topic from a global standpoint, examining states from all areas of the world. In their diverse and thorough exploration of state building, the authors cross the theoretical, geographic, and chronological boundaries that traditionally shape this field in order to rethink the customary macro and micro approaches to the study of state building and make the case for global histories of both pre-modern and modern state formations.
Introduction: approaches to state formations John L. Brooke and Julia C. Strauss; Part I. Definitions: 1. On the person of the state Quentin Skinner; 2. The state as a social relation Bob Jessop; 3. Was there any such thing as a non-modern state? Greg Anderson; Part II. Foundings: 4. Comparative perspectives and early states revisited Rita P. Wright; 5. (Re) introducing the state on the medieval Swahili Coast Chapurukha M. Kusimba; 6. Renaissance states of mind Michael Martoccio; 7. Bringing the sarkar back in: translating patrimonialism and the state in early modern and early colonial India Nicholas J. Abbott; 8. Revolutionary state formation: the origins of the strong American state William J. Novak and Steven Pincus; 9. The founding of non-democratic states Richard Bensel; Part III. Agendas: 10. Empire as state: the Roman case Clifford Ando; 11. Weights and measures and state formation: the view from the early American republic Stephen Mihm; 12. Mapping power: the shape of the state in the post-Civil War American South Greg P. Downs; 13. To bee or not to bee: the co-production of modern science and the modern state John F. M. Clark; 14. Taxes and the two faces of the state since the eighteenth century Yannis D. Kotsonis; 15. Regimes and repertoires of statebuilding: the two Chinas and regime consolidation in the early 1950s Julia C. Strauss; Part IV. Memberships: 16. The Mesopotamian citizen conceptualized: affect, speech and perception Seth Richardson; 17. Military mobilization and the experience of living with the Ming state Michael Szonyi; 18. Ethnicity and power in early modern Europe and Asia Victor Lieberman; 19. Patriliny and modern states in the Middle East Diane King; 20. Social service, convivialismo, and hegemony in Colombia Rebecca Tally; 21. Indian affirmative action and the postcolonial state Anupama Rao; Conclusion: notes toward a global synthesis John L. Brooke and Julia C. Strauss.
