States and State Formation - Dr Roberto Foa
This course offers an in-depth assessment of the state. Over the course of these seminars, we will ask: how and why did fiefdoms unite into relatively large and stable political units during the early modern era? Why were some states able to develop bureaucratic institutions, while others remained patrimonial? How do patterns of state formation affect contemporary variation in economic development, rule of law, and political accountability? And under what circumstances have political institutions “decayed”? The course will cover key elements of the science of the state, including core concepts such as bureaucracy, patrimonialism, prebendalism, the rule of law, legitimacy, corruption, informal vs. formal institutions, and institutions vs. organisations, as well as covering historical case studies from across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. Students are expected to have a strong knowledge of or interest in world history and a willingness to debate key topics.