Statemaking does not end once states emerge but is a continuous process, argue the contributors to this volume. In their view, states are not static structures that “act upon" society, nor are states simple reflections of economic relations; states are instead highly dynamic structures that are constantly built up, dismantled, and transformed by complex interplays of political, social, and economic processes. This collection of original essays by leading scholars in the fields of history, anthropology, sociology, and economics argues for historically specific theories of states and politics in place of ahistorical models. Case studies range in scope from Aztec Mexico and feudal Europe to Nazi Germany and contemporary America. What emerges from this ground-breaking interdisciplinary dialogue is a historically sensitive way of thinking about states, politics, and social movements and the transformative relationship between states and societies.

Charles Bright is a renowned historian whose scholarly endeavors focus on the intricacies of state formation and social movements. He has been a pivotal figure at the University of Michigan's Residential College for over three decades, where his interdisciplinary teaching approach has influenced both his research and the academic community. Susan Harding is a distinguished cultural anthropologist whose research explores the intersections of politics, culture, and social movements. She is professor emerita of anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz.