Rokkan, Stein "Dimensions of State Formation and Nation Building: A Possible Paradigm for Research on Variations Within Europe" (1975)

This selection addresses the structural determinants of the disparate experiences of nation building in various European territories. Central question is under what conditions does centralization and the incorporation of the periphery occur most easily and correspondingly when is it most difficult. Rokkan sets out to attempt codification of knowledge about similarities and variations in European political systems by:

- Developing an abstract model w/ discussion of time sequences

- Discussing how model can be used to investigate variation within W. Europe

- Comparing W. Europe with other regions of the world

Paradigm of Dimensions:

Rokkan attempts a fusion of (1) Parson's paradigm of functional differentiation and (2) Hirschman's classification of decision systems. Develops a "multilevel model for the generation of structural profiles of political systems".

Four time phases within Rokkan's Parsons/Hirschman model:

I. Initial state-building

- In W. Europe from High Middle Ages to French Rev

- Economic, political and cultural unification of the elite

- Institutions developed for maintenance of common defense and internal order

II. Strengthening national identity at mass level

- Feelings of identity with political system spread (may conflict with existing identities)

- Conscript armies, mass education, mass media

III. Opening channels for mass participation

- representation, organized parties

IV. Develop consensus on need for redistribution of resources and benefits

- expansion of administrative apparatus for the territorial state

- agencies of redistribution, welfare services

Time phases model most closely fits W. European development; phases II-IV often simultaneous

Variables of importance in discussion of variations within Europe: (592)

Cultural: independence of Church, conditions for development of national language

Economic: level of concentration in rural economy, relative independence of city network

Six givens of W. European historical center formation and periphery incorporation:

(1) heritage of Roman empire: ideal of citizenship, legitimacy of rules

(2) supraterritorial, cross-ethnic role of Catholic Church in channeling elite communications

(3) Germanic kingdoms tradition of legislative-judicial assemblies

(4) Growth of independent cities across W. Europe following the revival of trade orient-Mediterranean-north sea

(5) Development of manorial or feudal agrarian structures and concentration of land holdings

(6) Decline of Latin and emergence of vernacular languages

Dimension of Variability within Western Europe:

(1) Geopolitical distance northward from Rome

(2) Geopolitical distance east/west from the central belt of trade route cities

(3) Concentrations of landholdings and related dependence or independence of the peasants

(4) Ethnic bias in efforts of center building

History of Europe is:

- Center formation at the periphery of a network of independent sites

- Aggressive state building efforts only on fringes of economic Europe

- Center cities were culturally and technologically advanced: agricultural economy, city networks, common religion

- Low levels of mobilization at time of state building important for states

Processes of European development can not be repeated in newer nations (contextual relativism)