General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why do we buy into the worship of the military? [View all]lonely bird
(1,678 posts)It has been said that the state has a monopoly on violence which is true to a great degree. That being said the state is the expression of organization of society. As such it is subject to those who seek and will wield power. Doing so requires that power-wielders use tools which allows or permits power to be wielded. Tools such as patriotism, exceptionalism, mythology, capitalism and useful targets such as socialism/communism, gays, foreigners etc aka the other are examples of what are used by power-wielders through the state. Democracy or autocracy or oligarchy it matters not. The state coerces because the power-wielders need coercion even when coercion is for the good of all. Coercion itself demonstrates how the state can or cannot function.