Max Weber: Politics as a Vocation

Max Weber: Politics as a Vocation

Max Weber

Quote from Passage:

"The “state” (staat), is the dominant political organization and the object of the study of politics. Weber famously defines the ideal type of the state: as the organization that maintains a monopoly on the use of force (macht) over a given territory. All political orders are maintained through the use of force. This is a sobering lesson for people undergoing a revolution and something which those who have been leading the movement are already discovering, both from themselves and from their opponents. Power is wielded over a certain territorial area, the geography of the territory partially determines the character of the state. Otherwise the concentration of power over a certain area gives rise to distinctive nationalities who identify with the state and its particular form of domination. Weber is careful to define the state only in terms of means, not ends. The means the state uses, is force, the end, the goals it pursues is relative to the unique history of each state. The ends of the state today are termed the “national interests” of the state."

Explanation & Reason for choosing the Paragraph:

           In my understanding, he was emphasizing how politicians who governs and rule a country creates laws or constitution that favors them in order to live with no form of limitations for them. Politicians may come up with a system that favors or civilians may want to hear just to gain power but then that is not what they intend to do. I remember when I was a kid in one African nation where there is vast amount of gold and minerals. The government had made a statement that since the economy was poor and most senior citizens have pure gold sitting in their closet's, they should give part to their country in order for the government to create a form of free health insurance and medical prescriptions. This sounded, a great deal but in turn the government announced that the gold on its way to the US has been stolen in Turkey and the Turkey government is investigating the problem. Up until today the senior citizens are living helpless with no form of medical coverage.

            There are situations where government officials formulate or amend the constitution or current laws to favor them to enjoy. Listening to the news, there are fights between civilians and their government officials everyday and its all because of lies and force of rules imposed to the civilians for years. Educated civilians mostly opposes the government when such uncomfortable amendments and forces are opposed onto them.