Michael Mann’s Theory of Social Power

The text deals with the question of European state formation in the research of the famous contemporary British sociologist Michael Mann. The article introduces and discusses Mann’s theory of social power, especially his concept of state-formation, and also puts his theory into a broader context th...

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Main Author: Jan Kalenda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Institute of International Relations Prague 2011-03-01
Series:Czech Journal of International Relations
Subjects:
Online Access:https://cjir.iir.cz/index.php/cjir/article/view/404
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author Jan Kalenda
author_facet Jan Kalenda
author_sort Jan Kalenda
collection DOAJ
description The text deals with the question of European state formation in the research of the famous contemporary British sociologist Michael Mann. The article introduces and discusses Mann’s theory of social power, especially his concept of state-formation, and also puts his theory into a broader context through comparing his work with alternative state formation theories, mainly with Charles Tilly’s conception. The text consists of five main thematic parts. 1) The first is an introduction to the theory of stateformation. 2) The second is an analysis of time-space relations in Mann’s theory of political development. 3) The third is a description of structural and analytical connections between state and society in the author’s treatise, and also a prelude to Mann’s conception of four key sources of social power (ideological, economical, military, and political). 4) The fourth main part deals with an analysis of the course of European state-building. In this case Mann analyses mechanisms of state building in the feudal period (800–1155 A.D.), the period of centralized, territorial states (1155– 1477 A.D.), the period of constitutional and absolutistic states (1477–1760 A.D.) and the period of modern polymorphous states (1760–1914 A.D.). 5) The last part is focused on criticism of Mann’s theory of social power, its confrontation with alternative theories, especially with Charles Tilly’s work, and the conclusion of our findings.
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spelling doaj.art-689b92f3ac5949a39ca3fa2c2906078a2023-01-19T07:03:20ZengInstitute of International Relations PragueCzech Journal of International Relations0323-18442570-94292011-03-01461Michael Mann’s Theory of Social PowerJan Kalenda The text deals with the question of European state formation in the research of the famous contemporary British sociologist Michael Mann. The article introduces and discusses Mann’s theory of social power, especially his concept of state-formation, and also puts his theory into a broader context through comparing his work with alternative state formation theories, mainly with Charles Tilly’s conception. The text consists of five main thematic parts. 1) The first is an introduction to the theory of stateformation. 2) The second is an analysis of time-space relations in Mann’s theory of political development. 3) The third is a description of structural and analytical connections between state and society in the author’s treatise, and also a prelude to Mann’s conception of four key sources of social power (ideological, economical, military, and political). 4) The fourth main part deals with an analysis of the course of European state-building. In this case Mann analyses mechanisms of state building in the feudal period (800–1155 A.D.), the period of centralized, territorial states (1155– 1477 A.D.), the period of constitutional and absolutistic states (1477–1760 A.D.) and the period of modern polymorphous states (1760–1914 A.D.). 5) The last part is focused on criticism of Mann’s theory of social power, its confrontation with alternative theories, especially with Charles Tilly’s work, and the conclusion of our findings. https://cjir.iir.cz/index.php/cjir/article/view/404State formationMichael Mannhistorical sociologysocial powerEuropean stateswar
spellingShingle Jan Kalenda
Michael Mann’s Theory of Social Power
Czech Journal of International Relations
State formation
Michael Mann
historical sociology
social power
European states
war
title Michael Mann’s Theory of Social Power
title_full Michael Mann’s Theory of Social Power
title_fullStr Michael Mann’s Theory of Social Power
title_full_unstemmed Michael Mann’s Theory of Social Power
title_short Michael Mann’s Theory of Social Power
title_sort michael mann s theory of social power
topic State formation
Michael Mann
historical sociology
social power
European states
war
url https://cjir.iir.cz/index.php/cjir/article/view/404
work_keys_str_mv AT jankalenda michaelmannstheoryofsocialpower