Charles R. Butcher

Charles R. Butcher, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, discusses his groundbreaking work on non-Western states in the nineteenth century. He critiques traditional state counts, advocating for a more nuanced understanding of sovereignty. The conversation explores centralization versus delegation in state systems, with intriguing case studies from East and Southeast Asia. Butcher also highlights the impact of colonialism on state extinction and the enduring legacies of pre-colonial institutions in today's political landscape.