State functions and roles in governance

¶ … Max Weber defined state as "a human community that (successfully) claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory whether that legitimacy derives from charisma, tradition, or law" (Hokim 2012). Weber held that domination of people being ruled by a ruler is an unavoidable political fact. His vision for democracy in Germany was a political marketplace where charismatic rulers are elected by winning votes in free competition, whether in struggle or not. He saw localized, public associational life as the breeding ground of charismatic rulers.

Weber suggested that social pluralism should be the sociocultural ground for political education of lay citizens, which requires an organized civil society. He also suggested that the political education should contain ethics in conviction and responsibility. The political ethics also involved value-freedom and value-relativism.

Under Weber's definition, North Korea under Kim Jong-il, after American invasion or Cambogia under the Khmer Rouge does not fit the definition of a state. Kim Jong-il ruled North Korea under a totalitarian rule where no individual freedom is permitted and all aspects of individual life are subordinate to government authority (totalitarism 2013). Totalitarian rule is an absolute and oppressive single party government characterized by a strong central rule.

"Many observers list Jong-il's government as the world's most authoritarian regime with him as near-absolute control" (Norman 2011). Weber's definition is based on legitimacy. The absolute control questions the legitimacy of the North Korean government. The authoritarian regime does not support political ethics, especially where value-freedom and value-relativism is involved. Where the North Korean people were absolutely ruled by Jong-il, there was no freedom for free competition in the economy. The oppression of the government took away the rights of the people to decide how they felt about living and working. The people were only allowed to think, feel, and do what the government allowed them to do.

As a result of no freedom being allowed to the citizens, North Korea suffered mass poverty and rampant corruption at the hands of the government. There were allegations against Kim Jong-il of orchestrating foreign kidnappings of exiled North Koreans and maintaining 20 concentration camps to torture people who did not follow his rule. This is opposite of Weber's definition that involves the social pluralistic society.

The authoritarian society concentrates power and decision making to a few members, in this case, Kim Jong-il. The pluralistic society diffuses power where society members take ownership of the results of exercising power. Under Kim Jong-il, North Koreans were not given any power to exercise. His authoritarian rule oppressed the human welfare of the society, which decreased productivity and economic growth.

Weber's suggestion of leaders coming from lay citizens who had been politically educated based on social pluralism as a sociocultural ground is also opposite of Jong-il's rule. North Korea has only been ruled by Kim family members for over 50 years. Candidates were not taken from the general society that Weber suggests. And, Jong-il's rule does not show any political education to the lay members of society. They are only instructed to follow his demands and tortured if they do not comply.

"Charismatic authority is defined as 'power legitimized on a basis of a leader's exceptional personal qualities or the demonstration of extraordinary insight and accomplishment, which inspire loyalty and obedience from followers" (Charisma 2008). It depends strongly on the perceived legitimacy of the authority figure. Weber saw charismatic authority as a valid recognition by certain followers based on legitimate duty belonging to the followers who believed they were chosen to recognize the qualities of the leader.