The hottest State power Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top World Politics Topics

Only the State Forgives

News from Uncibal • 278 implied HN points • 03 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political theory Public Policy Human Rights Judiciary State power
  1. The modern state has taken on the role of providing forgiveness and redemption, much like the medieval church did. This change is so complete that many people don't realize it's happened.
  2. There are complex cases, like that of a young man involved in a violent crime, where the state considers human rights and mental health before making decisions on punishment and deportation.
  3. The situation reflects a deeper political theology, showing how state decisions can influence personal lives and highlight the tension between justice and compassion.

“Human Rights NGOs” and the Corruption of Civil Society

Glenn’s Substack • 859 implied HN points • 10 Jun 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Civil Society Human Rights Foreign Policy NGOs State power
  1. Some human rights NGOs are seen as tools that promote government agendas rather than genuinely protecting civil rights. They can suppress certain voices while promoting others.
  2. These NGOs often have ties to government funding and influence, which makes their claims of being independent questionable. This situation can lead to the misrepresentation of public opinion.
  3. The relationship between government, corporations, and NGOs can complicate the role of civil society. This can limit independent thought and discussion in places like universities.

The Empire Self-Destructs

The Chris Hedges Report • 960 implied HN points • 07 Feb 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political theory Corruption Foreign Policy Civil Liberties State power
  1. Empires often collapse due to internal problems like corruption, poor decisions, and failed policies. When this happens, their power and influence break down too.
  2. Some leaders and groups are pushing for a more extreme and Christian-based government, which threatens the democratic and diverse values of society.
  3. The way the U.S. gives foreign aid is often harmful and designed to control other countries, leading to more inequality at home and abroad.

The Widening Gyre

Gideon's Substack • 57 implied HN points • 20 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Constitutional Law Political theory Civil Rights Government Policy State power
  1. There's a big difference between law and sheer power. Law can be understood and followed, while totalitarian regimes can do whatever they want without following the law.
  2. Biden's declaration about the Equal Rights Amendment raises questions. If he can declare something to be law just because he believes it, then what prevents future presidents from doing the same with their own beliefs?
  3. The whole situation might just be for show and not really change anything. This can make people lose trust in what the law actually is and think it's just about who has the most power.
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Americans Are Fighting For Control Of Federal Powers That Shouldn’t Exist

Stark Realities with Brian McGlinchey • 1999 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federal Government Constitution Supreme Court State power
  1. The intensity of the division in American politics arises from the federal government operating beyond the limits of the Constitution.
  2. The federal government's involvement in various aspects of American life is mostly unconstitutional based on the limited powers granted by the Constitution.
  3. The Supreme Court has played a significant role in expanding federal powers through broad interpretations of clauses like the General Welfare and Commerce clauses.

Authoritarianism and the Modern Liberal State

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 117 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Authoritarianism Liberalism State power Individual Rights Political Ideologies
  1. Modern authoritarianism can be different from historical fascism, as it stems from today’s anti-fascist values. It's important to understand how current states operate beyond just past comparisons.
  2. The idea that more rights to bear arms would fully protect freedoms is oversimplified. A deeper approach is needed to challenge state power effectively.
  3. Classical liberalism has changed, with a shift from focusing on individual rights to promoting more social welfare. This change has expanded state authority despite its anti-authoritarian claims.

Chartbook 224 The Wagner uprising and the centrifugal force of war.

Chartbook • 1616 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🌍 World Politics War Military Rebellion State power Violence
  1. The Wagner group in Russia had a major impact on the world economy, particularly on energy markets.
  2. The dynamics of war show the complexity and rivalry within armed forces, particularly evident during conflicts like the Russian-Ukrainian war.
  3. The Wagner group's mutiny and Putin's response highlight the potential risks of power struggles and succession disputes in Russia, posing concerns for the future.

neomedievalism and transnational nobility

alice maz • 110 implied HN points • 30 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics State power National Identity
  1. States are losing power, and people are looking for new groups or identities to connect with. This means loyalty might shift from the nation-state to other forms of community and personal connections.
  2. With the rise of technology and the internet, individuals can now create and spread information themselves, changing how we communicate and come together. This new way could challenge governments and traditional authorities.
  3. People are moving away from the idea of absolute loyalty to one nation and are searching for shared purpose and community. In the future, we might form groups based on interests or beliefs instead of just nationality.

White Christian nationalism: the most powerful identity politics

Can We Still Govern? • 205 implied HN points • 28 Feb 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Identity politics Religious freedom State power Legislation
  1. Christian nationalism is a powerful form of identity politics, blending far-right Christianity with nationalism, associated with support for political violence and racial identity.
  2. Christian nationalism operates by appealing to a sense of grievance and persecution among White Christians, leading to a defense of White supremacy and denial of discrimination against Black individuals.
  3. Under a Christian nationalist state, winners are White reactionary politics while losers include religious, racial, and sexual minorities, as well as the erosion of reproductive rights and bodily autonomy.

The Meaning of the Rainbow Revolution

eugyppius: a plague chronicle • 245 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
🌍 World Politics State power Liberalism Rights
  1. Western liberal tradition aims to limit state power and believes in the sovereignty of the people, but this approach has faced challenges with the evolution of unchecked authoritative regimes.
  2. Liberal checks on state power have led to the development of legal and cultural strategies to bypass limitations, making the state a more dangerous entity.
  3. The concept of rights in liberal systems has been manipulated to expand state power by emphasizing positive over negative rights, leading to the creation of novel rights that can restrict traditional freedoms.

Supreme Court: Trump Stays on the Ballot

The Reactionary • 152 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Supreme Court Donald Trump 2024 election 14th Amendment State power
  1. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled to allow Trump to stay on the ballot, rejecting state efforts to block him based on the 14th Amendment.
  2. States don't have the authority to disqualify federal candidates, as outlined in the Constitution, to ensure uniformity and prevent a patchwork of rules across states.
  3. The legal disputes around Trump's candidacy highlighted complexities in interpreting the 14th Amendment's Section 3 and the importance of maintaining consistency in federal election rules.

Why I'm a libertarian, part two: the cost of good intentions

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 14 Feb 12
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Libertarianism State power Civil Liberties Public Policy Government intervention
  1. The government can sometimes do more harm than good when trying to prevent problems. This means we have to be careful about how much power we give the state.
  2. Just because an idea sounds good doesn't mean it will work as planned. Often, government actions can have unexpected negative effects that people don't see coming.
  3. It's important to remember that some issues are better left alone. Sometimes doing nothing might be the best option to avoid causing more problems.

Liberalism Versus Democracy 1

From the New World • 0 implied HN points • 22 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political theory Government Systems Democracy Liberalism State power
  1. The modern European state faces various internal challenges that can cause it to break apart. These issues are important to understand for grasping how political systems function.
  2. Carl Schmitt's work provides insights into the nature of the state and its complexities. His ideas help explain the struggles within government structures.
  3. The balance between liberalism and democracy is crucial in political discussions. It's important to consider how these two concepts interact and influence each other.