%0 Journal Article
%T State fragmentation: toward a theoretical understanding of the territorial power of the state
%J Sociological theory
%D 2002
%A Li, Jieli
%V 20
%N 2
%P 139-156
%X In existing theories of revolution, the state is narrowly defined as an administrative entity, and state breakdown simply refers to the disintegration of a given political regime. But this narrow definition cannot deal with this question: Why, in a revolutionary situation, do some states become fragmented and others remain unified? I would therefore argue for the broadening of the concept of state breakdown to include the territorial power of the state and to treat the latter as a key analytical dimension in the study of state fragmentation. The dynamics of territorial state power involve the control of critical territories and valuable resources associated with the spatial position of a given state in the interstate system. A strong territorial state is able to maintain its organizational coerciveness and territorial integrity, whereas a weak territorial state is vulnerable to fragmentation. The overall state crisis derives from the accumulated effects of geopolitical strain by which territorial fragmentation unfolds.<p /><p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I John Wiley and Sons
%@ 0735-2751
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-9558.00156