The State and the Difficulties It Presents

As Macondo developed, the state suddenly appeared in the form of a “magistrate” or judge named Don Apolinar Moscote.

HERYUNANTO

Bre Redana

The first time the state was present, it caused difficulties. The presence of the state was represented by a law enforcer (magistrate) escorted by troops carrying guns. Based on the mandate of power to subdue the people under the pretext of order, he issued an order: all houses must be painted blue.

Of course, I didn't take the story from a textbook about the state like Francis Fukuyama's The Origins of Political Order and the like, but from the novel One Hundred Years of Solitude which I wanted to discuss because Gabriel Garcia Marquez's magnum opus has now been made into a series and is being shown on Netflix. A friend asked for my comments on the film which inevitably made me reread the book, which I have actually read many times. It is one of three books that are always on my desk to reread at any time.