Power held because "that’s how it’s always been" (think Kings and tribal chiefs).
Weber’s 1919 lecture, Politics as a Vocation , provides the definitive roadmap for how the modern state emerged and why it looks the way it does today. The Core Definition: Control of Force Max Weber’s Theory of the Modern State: Origins...
How did we get here? Weber identified a massive historical shift in how power is justified. He broke this down into three "ideal types" of authority: Power held because "that’s how it’s always been"
Max Weber’s Modern State: The Machinery of Order When we think of a "state," we often imagine flags, borders, or leaders. But for Max Weber, the pioneering German sociologist, the modern state was something much more clinical and formidable: a high-functioning machine. Weber identified a massive historical shift in how
Decisions are made "without regard to persons," based on written files and regulations rather than favors or family ties. The "Iron Cage"
Weber wasn't entirely optimistic. He feared that as the state became more rational and efficient, it would turn into an of rules. In this world, the human spirit—creativity, passion, and individual values—might be crushed by the sheer weight of the administrative machine. The Takeaway
To Weber, the state is the only entity that can successfully claim a within a given territory. If you use force without the state’s permission (like a vigilante or a gang), it’s a crime. If the state does it (via police or military), it’s "law and order." The Shift: From Persons to Papers