Exceptional State

Definition of Exceptional State

The Canada social science dictionary [1] provides the following meaning of Exceptional State: This arises when a liberal democratic society adopts government policies that rely on the coercive power of the state, rather than trying to maintain compromises that balance conflicting interests. This is a departure from the usual role of democratic states and therefore exceptional. Stuart Hall used the term to describe what happened in Britain in the 1980’s as economic failure led to mass unemployment, a government fiscal crisis and a loss of support among important groups; there was a crisis of legitimacy. The British government fostered a sense of an enemy within the society and claimed that social instability was caused by rampant crime and militant unionists. This ‘threat’ then justified giving the state coercive powers which it used to control the crisis. See: FISCAL CRISIS / LEGITIMATION CRISIS in this legal dictionary and in the world encyclopedia of law.

Exceptional State: Resources

Notes and References

• Drislane, R., & Parkinson, G. (2016). (Concept of) Exceptional State. Online dictionary of the social sciences. Open University of Canada