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
Weber’s theory suggests that the modern state didn't happen by accident. It emerged because societies needed a predictable, stable, and organized way to manage massive populations. We traded the unpredictable whims of kings for the predictable (if sometimes cold) efficiency of the rule of law. 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: To Weber, the state is the only entity