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Resumo

This essay explores the complexities of defining "the state" in contemporary political anthropology, particularly in contexts where sovereignty is fragmented or contested. Geertz argues against simplistic, Weberian notions of the state as a monolithic entity possessing a monopoly on legitimate violence. He proposes instead a more nuanced understanding of "the state" as a collection of practices and institutions that often operate in ambiguous and overlapping ways, especially in "complicated places" characterized by weak governance, internal conflict, and external interventions. Drawing on examples from Southeast Asia and Africa, Geertz highlights the importance of analyzing the specific historical and cultural contexts in which state-like entities emerge and function. He emphasizes the need to move beyond idealized models of sovereignty and focus on the actual practices and relationships that constitute political life in these complex settings.

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