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In this introductory article, King and Le Galès first review what is at issue in sociology of the State, a research field that is currently undergoing reconstruction, as is the State it aims to study. They mention on one hand the importance of the State in structuring and regulating conflicts and in steering European societies, and on the other, arguments in the literature that justify current interest in the reconstruction of the State, namely, the processes of Europeanization and globalization. They then briefly mention examples of new areas of contemporary empirical research on the State, pointing up conceptualization difficulties, before presenting some recent studies in sociology of the State in connection with two areas of controversy, one concerning questions of definition and variables to be taken into account in analyzing the State – this covers the debates on the distinction between strong and weak States and the use of traditional models centered on Europe, the other pursuing the issue of variables. Citing the works of Michael Mann in particular, the authors develop the case that analysis of public policy is crucial to understanding the ways in which the contemporary State is being reconstructed. They conclude by presenting the articles in this issue, organized around the two areas of controversy.