Max Weber and Vladimir Lenin say, in almost identical words, that with regard to the use of force the state is always a dictatorship. Michael Hardt and Antonio Negri, Multitude
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Lenin notes that both Weber and he view the state as a dictatorship when force is used.
- In plain terms
- He says the state is inherently dictatorial when employing force.
- What can you take from it?
- Forceful state actions imply dictatorship.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When does state force become legitimate?
Another view
Not all state force is dictatorial; context matters.
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