State as an Institution

The definition of State is "a political entity that claims monopoly on the use of violence in some particular territory; commonly known as a country ( Henslin 423)." A social institution however is a system in which people's behavior's and relationships that link with the society. To sum it up a state as an institution is the way society reacts in a territory or in each country. A good way to look at the state as an institution is compare it with the Conflict Theory.  This theory was introduced  by Karl Marx, and was also put into the category of macro level of analysis. State as an Institution definitely fits into this category because the Conflict Theory follows the pattern of capitalism. People were divided into bourgeoisies and the proletariats (factory owners and factory workers). This made society an "uneven playing field," and made it look as if the rules were rigged for the workers. Because they relied on each other the owners would soon have to play by the workers rules to make money. One offset and it would change the means of production which is where the power of state is applied. If the state didn't cooperate then everything would fall out of place.

In my opinion we are the ones who make the world operate like it does. We let the bourgeoisies control what we buy, what we get paid, and when we buy the product. While we are out blowing our money on material things that we think we need, they are sitting there making up to thousands of dollars per hour, because that's how the state of an institution works.

Henslin, James M. "Chapter 15." Sociology ;a Down-to-earth Approach: Core Concepts. Boston, MA: Pearson, 2012. 423. Print.