Final answer:
The government relies on discipline as a tool of social control, exerting power through an asserted monopoly on the use of violence, shaping behavior, and enforcing authority internally and externally.
Step-by-step explanation:
Power argues that the government relies on discipline as a tool of social control. Governments exercise their authority to maintain order and implement policies by exerting control over their citizens. Max Weber, a German sociologist, described power as the ability to exercise one's will over others, which is a concept that goes beyond personal relationships and extends to control exerted by social groups, professional organizations, and governments. The use of power involves a variety of methods, including economic and military might, intimidation, and even brutality. Governments often assert a monopoly on the use of violence, where only the government can legally utilize violence to enforce laws and maintain order within its jurisdiction. This monopoly on violence is a characteristic of state societies and is essential for the government to perpetuate its authority and control.
Governments have historically mandated standards for behavior and applied harsh consequences for failure to adhere to those standards. Aristotle, for example, believed that a government should encourage its citizens to cultivate virtues, and to achieve this, the government has the authority to regulate various aspects of society. This notion reflects the multifaceted nature of governmental power and authority, which shapes not only the behavior of individuals but also the broader culture and societal norms.
Therefore, Power implies that discipline used by the government is one crucial way in which it retains its control over the population, potentiating its ability to influence not only the behavior of individuals within its own borders but also the actions of other nations.