11.1.1: Authority and Legitimate Violence
As sociologist Peter Berger observed, it makes little difference whether you willingly pay the fine that the judge levies against you or refuse to pay it. The court will get its money one way or another.
There may be innumerable steps before its application [of violence], in the way of warnings and reprimands. But if all the warnings are disregarded, even in so slight a matter as paying a traffic ticket, the last thing that will happen is that a couple of cops show up at the door with handcuffs and a Black Maria [paddy wagon]. Even the moderately courteous cop who hands out the initial traffic ticket is likely to wear a gun—just in case. (Berger 1963) The government, then, also called the state, claims a monopoly on legitimate force or violence. This point, made by Weber (1946, 1922/1978)—that the state claims both the exclusive right to use violence and the right to punish everyone else who uses violence—is crucial to our understanding of politics. If someone owes you $100, you cannot take the money by force, much less imprison that person.
The state, in contrast, can.
You cannot kill someone because he or she has done something that you consider absolutely horrible—but the state can. As Berger (1963) summarized this matter, “Violence is the ultimate foundation of any political order.”
What does be reprimanded mean?
ReplyDeleteverb. reprimanded; reprimanding; reprimands. transitive verb. : to reprove sharply or censure formally usually from a position of authority.Nov 21, 2022