Chapter 1

Concept of State and Nation

CONTENTS
I. EMERGENCE OF THE STATE FROM SOCIETY
II. DEFINITIONS OF STATE
III. THEORIES ON THE ORIGIN OF STATE
A. Theory of Kinship
Patriarchal Theory
Matriarchal Theory
Divine Theory
Social Contract Theory
IV. TYPES OF STATE
A. Oriental Empire
B. Greek City States
C. Roman Empire
D. Feudal States
E. Nation States
F. International Entities
V. ELEMENTS OF A STATE
A. Population
B. Territory
C. Government
D. Sovereignty
VI. ROLE OF A STATE
A. Minimal States
B. Developmental States
C. Social Democratic States
D. Collectivized States
E. Totalitarian States
F. Modern Welfare State
VII. CONCEPT OF A NATION
UNIT 01: CHAPTER 1

Concept of State and Nation

1. Objectives:

1. To gain knowledge of the State with respect to:

2
origin and growth

2
well-known definitions

2
types

2. Understand

2
different elements

2
concept of a Nation

3. Apply knowledge

2
while resolving a given problem-case study

2
doing research / reference work

2. Think it over: Take this quiz to find out how much you know, by choosing the right option.

a. The State means people who

i. Live in distinct groups for their own benefit

ii. Share their resources for mutual benefit

b. A state would be formed by determining

i. The resources available in an area

ii. Commonality of socio-economic life of people

c. Political activities in a state aim

i. To keep certain communities in power to defend it

ii. To regulate the overall life and livelihood of the population

d. The term 'Machiavellian' refers to the practice of

i. Cunning, deceit, and extrication as means to social success

ii. Sincere, honest and patriotic deeds for social upliftment

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 e. The authority to run a Family is conferred on the member because of
i. seniority
ii. status, competence
f. The theory that taught individuals to obey and support some definite ruler with a very
high moral status is called the _______ Theory.
i. Divine
ii. Darwinian
g. The 'state of nature' ensured the rights of individuals relating to
i. life, liberty, property
ii. survival, power, wealth
h. Nobles, Vassals and Serfs are classes of society that existed in the
i. Feudal states
ii. Oriental states
i. Nature of population- which is uniform with respect to race, religion, language and
culture?
i. homogeneous
ii. heterogeneous
j. To which cardinal principle has the U.N.O given its approval? Choose one.
i. Right to self-determination
ii. Right to life and property
Compare your answers and discuss what you have learnt.

I. EMERGENCE OF THE STATE FROM SOCIETY

The State is usually described as 'society politically organized'. Society is an association of
human beings, who live a collective life and form social relations to fulfil their needs of life. That
may be physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. The presence of the societal institutions
like family, clans, tribes, villages, religious institutions, educational institutions, workplace
associations etc. in a society is a fact, which cannot be denied. Society is the whole web of social
relationship based on kinship affinity, language affinity, religious affinity, common conscience of
individuals and territorial affinity. Social relationships are governed by necessity, custom,
courtesy, morality, mutual understanding, agreement or even contract.

4
 When a society is governed by common set of laws, rules, regulations, and obey a supreme
authority, it qualifies for being a State. The State fulfils the need of political organization of
society to realize the purpose of collective living. This is what we understand from the famous
phrases used by Aristotle (384 -322 BCE) in his treatise Politics, where he observed that 'Man is a
social animal; Man is a political animal'.
Thus, the State is formed out of society. The Society is the primary association. A State is formed
to regulate the political activity of individuals for social order. The State depends on society for
its existence, and not vice versa.
R.M. MacIver (1882-1970) in his famous work The Modern State has observed thus:'There are
social forms like the family or church or the club, which owe neither their origin nor their
inspiration to the state; and social forces, like custom or competition, which the state may
protect or modify, but certainly does not create; and social motives like friendship or jealousy,
which establishes relationships too intimate and personal to be controlled by the great engine
of the state………. The State in a word regulates the outstanding external relationships of men
in society.'

II. DEFINITIONS OF STATE

There is no accepted definition of the state and it has been differently defined by various writers
from time to time. Machiavelli, in his book The Prince defined state 'as the power which has
authority over men'. Notwithstanding the disagreement amongst there writers, most of them
agree in ascribing to the state the three elements: people, territory and government.
Disagreement became prominent in respect of the fourth element, that is, sovereignty.
However, the concept of the state is the central theme of the political theory. The state is a
social Institution that evolves according to the socio- economic conditions of society. The state is
only an aspect of the whole social system. State is a particular portion of society politically
organized for the protection and promotion of its common interests. It is main political
consciousness which formed the state.
An illustrative list of definitions provided some of the leading political thinkers is provided
below:
Harold J. Laski (1893-1950), a British political philosopher in his literary work An Introduction to
Politics (1931) defines State as 'a territorial society, divided into government and subjects
claiming within its allotted physical area supremacy over other associations'.
Aristotle (384-322 BCE) defines State as 'an associations of families and villages for the sake of
attaining a perfect and self -sufficient existence'.
Salmond defines state as 'an association of human beings established for the attainment of
certain ends by certain means, the ends being defence against external enemies and the
maintenance of peaceable and orderly relations within the community itself.’

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 J.L. Brierly defines state as 'an institution, that is to say,… a system of relations which men
establish among themselves as a means of securing certain objects, of which the most
fundamental is a system of order within which their activities can be carried on.'

III. THEORIES ON THE ORIGIN OF STATE

Political philosophers have given different theories on the origin of the state.

Theory of Kinship
The theory of kinship on the origin of State is based on sociological facts. The earliest advocate
of this theory is Aristotle (384-322 BCE). In his treatise Politics Aristotle states 'Society of many
families is called a village and a village is most naturally composed of the descendants of one
family, the children and the children's children…, for every family is governed by the elder, as
are the branches thereof, on account of their relation, there unto…. and when many villages so
entirely join themselves together as in every respect to form but one society, that society is
state and contains in itself that perfection of government.'
In other words, family was the unit of society at the beginning. The blood relationship and
kinship brought the members of the family together and they all accepted the authority of the
head of the family. The name of the common ancestor was the symbol of kinship. Kinship
created society and society in turn created the State. With the expansion of family arose new
families and multiplication of families led to the formation of clans. With the expansion of clans,
tribes came into existence and ultimately the state came into existence. Family discipline,
command and obedience are supposed to represent the origin of government. This view finds
support from the writings of R.M. MacIver (1882-1970) according to which curbs and controls that
constitute the essence of government is first seen in the family. There is a difference of opinion
among the scholars regarding the nature of kinship.

Patriarchal Theory
According to Patriarchal Theory, in the origin and development of State, the eldest male
descendant of the family had an important role to play. The Patriarchal theory finds its support
from Sir Henry Maine (1822-1888). In his book The Spirit of Laws (1861), Maine explained that
the state developed out of the family as legitimate legal system developed out of the
unrestrained autocracy of the family head (patria potestas). Under patria potestas, the eldest
male parent of the family had the final and unqualified authority over the family and the
household. He expanded the family ties by polygamy and thus created the bondage among the
individuals on the basis of kinship to form a state. The congregation of families formed villages,
and extension of villages formed tribes or a clan, ultimately to form State.

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Matriarchal Theory
Matriarchal Theory finds support from political thinkers like McLennan (1827-1881), and Edward
Jenks (1861-1939). According to them, patriarchal families were non-existent in the primitive
ages. Polyandry (where a woman had many husbands) was the highest authority of the
household. McLennan described mater familias (mother as the head of family) as the
martiapotestas (mother as the final authority) in matters of possession and disposal of property
of the family.
Edward Jenks illustrates this process from his studies of primitive tribes in Australia. The
Australian tribes were organized in some sort of tribes known as totem group. The totem groups
were not organized on the basis of blood relationship but they were united by a common symbol
like a tree or an animal. Men of one totem group would marry all the women of their generation
belonging to another totem group. Thus the system of marriage included polygamy as also
polyandry. Kinship and paternity in such cases could not be determined but maternity was a fact.
Edward Jenks points out that with the passage of time and beginning of pastoral stage in human
civilization, the matriarchal society evolved into the patriarchal one.
Patriarchal and matriarchal theories have been criticized on the ground that the authority of a
state as a political institution over its individuals is not by nature but by the choice of individuals.
The purpose of forming a state also differs to a great extent from that of a family. The authority
to run a state is conferred on the ruler not because of his seniority, but on account of his status
and competence.

Divine Theory
According to the Divine Theory, state is established and governed by God or some super human
power or the King as his agent and the religious scriptures. As God created the animals, plants,
trees, rivers, hills and other inanimate objects, the God also created the state for a particular
end in view, that is, peace, protection and preservation of creatures on this earth. This theory
found support from political thinkers such as James I (1566-1625) and Sir Robert Filmer (1588-
1653). This theory implies individuals to obey and support some definite ruler with a high moral
status equivalent to God. This theory adds moral character to state functions. Laws backed by
religious sanctions appealed more to the primitive man to live under the authority of the king.
Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Jews, and many other faiths of this world hold a similar view, -that
the origin of political authority had divine sanction. Hinduism considered King Rama and King
Krishna as divine incarnations on this world. The Islamic states also seek to uphold the reign of
God (Allah) on earth. Christianity also traced the origin of political theory to the will of God.

Social Contract Theory

The Social Contract Theory traces the existence of the State to the mutual agreement and
mutual consent of the people, to form a State. Thomas Hobbes and John Locke, both from

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 England, and Jeans Jacques Rousseau from France, are the three political philosophers who
propounded this theory. They assumed that, to escape from the pre-political condition of
society, individuals entered into a social contract. These theories served as the basis for modern
democracy. This theory established the obedience to political authority and that ultimate
political authority rested with the consent of the people. The pre -political condition of mankind
was described as the state of nature.

replace or
overthrow it

protect their
rights

Government Social
People
(Kings) Contract

give
power
misuse
power

'Man is born free, everywhere he is in chains' Jean Jacques Rousseau.

Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679), an English political philosopher, in his literary work Leviathan
explains the origin of the state. He explains that prior to the emergence of a civil state, human
beings were in the state of nature. Hobbes began his thesis with the concept of a state of nature,
which he characterised as the pre-social phase of human nature. Their lives were under constant
struggle with nature. The state of nature was a condition of unmitigated selfishness and
capacity. It was a condition of perpetual war 'where every man was enemy to every other man.'
The life of a human being was 'solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short '.
To evade the state of nature, and for securing their natural rights of life, liberty and property as
civil rights, individuals entered into a social contract to establish a state. The people authorized
their right of governing themselves to the sovereign, which came into being as a result of the
contract. The person or assembly of persons to whom the rights are surrendered becomes the
sovereign and the individuals who agree to submit to the authority become subjects. Sovereign
here means the King. The ruler was not a party to the contract, and was not bound by any terms
of social contract and free to rule as per his whims. The commands of the sovereign were laws for
the governed and the sovereign was not accountable to people. People gave their ruler
unquestioned obedience.

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In the words of R.G Gettle, Hobbes created the all-powerful sovereign on account of his belief
that without such sovereign power, law, order, peace and security could not be maintained in
society. Hobbes deprived the people of their right to revolt against the sovereign. Hobbes
allowed individuals to disobey the commands only when the sovereign deprived them of their
right to self- preservation or the ruler got conquered and submitted authority to a new Emperor.
According to Hobbes, a change in the government meant the dissolution of the State. Thus, he
did not maintain the difference between state and government as a political institution.
John Locke (1632-1704) in his book Two Treatises of Government explained that the state of
nature was not a state of war, but a state of peace, natural rights, preservation, goodwill and
mutual assistance.
Locke's state of nature was pre-political. The people were social and had rights and liberties. The
state of nature ensured three rights to individuals relating to life, liberty and property. The state
of nature was one of inconvenience. Life was inconvenient because each individual had to
interpret the law of nature for himself and had also to enforce it without the help of any other
authority. The State of Nature did not have the machinery to enforce the natural rights of
individuals. To preserve such state of affairs two contracts were made: social and governmental.
Social contract led to the formation of civil society and governmental contract to the
establishment of government. Social contract was among the individuals - to surrender their
natural rights in exchange of civil rights. Governmental contract was between the individuals
and the ruler, to establish a system of law and justice in the form of a State. The ruler was the
party to the contract and was bound by its terms. Unlike Hobbes, Locke traces the source of
government's authority to the consent of the community.
Locke introduced the concept of limited government, in terms of the rulers, their powers,
functions and tenure. He believed in limited monarchy. The King was the trustee of the people. If
the ruler abused his powers and breached the popular trust, he may be changed by revolt by the
people.
According to Jean Jaques Rousseau (1712-1778) 'the general will of the people' led to the
creation of the institution called the state. Rousseau in his literary work, The Social Contract
described the state of nature as a state of bliss and happiness. With the passage of time, increase
in population and disparity of wealth and power, life became intolerable. Simplicity and
happiness disappeared. Human beings then started to build their relations on cooperation and
dependency. They entered into a 'social contract' to preserve their natural rights without
submitting or subordinating to any ruler or authority.
Individuals surrendered their rights to the General Will of which individuals themselves were
parts, and hence they shared rights even after transferring them. Individuals were governed by
a new authority in the name of General Will (common good) of the people, in the form of direct
democracy. Rousseau regarded General Will of the people as sovereign. The common good
depends on the prevailing circumstances of a society. According to Rousseau, the government is

9
 merely the tool to execute the popular will. Thus popular sovereignty is in continuous exercise
and there is no scope of revolt in his theory.
This theory is criticized on certain common counts. First, the individuals who were naïve to the
concept of political authority and civil rights could not, from any particular point of time, enter
into an agreement and start living a collectivized civil life. Second, if the existence of state is
based on agreement of the members of a society, then the old agreement may be revoked for
new in accordance with the self- interests of the members. Thus a mechanically originated state
will run under the constant fear of destabilization.
2
Check your understanding by marking each given statement as either true or false: [T/F]

1. Patriarchal Theory suggests that the eldest child assumes authority in due course.
2. The concept of a 'totem group' existed among native Australian communities.
3. The Theory of Social-Contract was not propounded by Rousseau
4. A symbol of kinship is the common name of the ancestor, as a community expands
5. The role of the Government is to present limits to preserve social life
6. Modern humanity can be attracted to God-like attributes in their leader.
7. The Community Head guarantees civil rights to his/her subjects.
8. Authority by the consent of the people is democratic.
9. Individuals surrendered their rights to the General Will is the beginning of an
Authoritarian government
10. An over -controlled state may be described as being 'çollectivized'

Compare your answers and discuss what you have learnt.

IV. TYPES OF STATE

In the words of R.G. Gettle the state did not have a single origin or regular or continuous
evolution. Thus, different types of State appeared on the world geography at different times,
places and as a result of different causes. They are categorized as:

A. Oriental Empire
Nomadic tribes generally settled down in places where their basic needs of food, water and
pasture for their cattle were fulfilled. The early nomadic tribes made the valleys of river
Ganges and Indus in India, in the valley of Huang Hoangho and Yang Tse-Kiang in China, the
Euphrates and Tigris in Mesopotamia and Nile in Egypt as their homelands.

10
 Tribal centres became kingdoms and empires by conquests and re-conquests, as in the case
of Aryans and Sumerians. Some of the important features of this empire included concept
of private property, settlement on definite territorial area, and authority of the eldest
member of the family or the person with highest physical force.

B. Greek City States

They flourished well in the city of Athens, Greece. Some of the features of this state
included the system of direct democracy, governance through political organization and
election rules.

Gymnasium & theatre in ancient Greece

C. Roman Empire
The Romans established a form of government - a republic - that inspired several countries
for centuries. For instance, government of the United States is hugely is influenced by the
Roman model.

Artist's imagination of the Roman Senate (Source: http://www.ushistory.org/civ/6a.asp)

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 The Roman State passed through three different periods. The first period was that of the
monarchies state. Monarchy was succeeded by a Republic under which civil and military
power were in the hands of two consuls who were elected annually. The Patricians
controlled the administration. There were struggle between the patricians and plebians
for the control of power. Ultimately, both of them got equal political and civil rights. The
Republic gave way to the Roman Empire which at one time extended over most parts of
Europe, Asia Minor and the whole of the Mediterranean coast. Rome put before the world
the ideals of unity, order, universal law and cosmopolitanism. The law of nations developed
during this period.
Political thinkers like R.G Gettle and historian Edward Gobbin (1737-1794) have attributed
the decline of the Roman Empire to reasons such as the sacrifice of individual liberty for
the sake of unity, moral depravity of the upper class, failure to make rules for the
succession of Emperors, and internal feuds.

D. Feudal States
They emerged from the long and continuous conflict between the barbarians and the
Roman political institutions after the downfall of Roman Empire. Feudalism emerged as a
consequence and compromise. Vast territories of disintegrated Rome fell into the hands of
powerful nobles. Nobles were the patricians of the Roman Empire, who shared political
power with the Monarch. They were the members of elite families by way of wealth and
social prestige. They became high council officials after the decline of the empire.

Europe- Middle Ages

F
1 KIng Clergy
E
U
Nobles Lords D
2
A
L
3 Knights Vassals
I
4 Peasants S
Serfs M
Feudalism in the Middle Ages

The Nobles let their land for cultivation, harvesting or other purposes in exchange of
consideration to tenants-in-chief and the tenants -in-chief in their turn gave the same to
the tenants, and tenants in turn to the Vassals and Serfs. Thus a community hierarchy was
set up based on the ownership of land holding.

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 E. Nation States
Many factors contributed to the decline of feudalism and rise in the consolidation of
centralized authority, such as industrial revolution and renaissance. A new type of state
emerged in England, France, Spain and Portugal based on ethnic, linguistic, religious and
territorial bonds of unity by the name of Nation States.
The separation of King's rule from the demands and interference of religious heads,
demand t of people for their civil and political rights, political consciousness, French
Revolution in 1789 and Declaration of Rights brought about a great improvement in the
political set up of nation states and led to the growth of Modern Nation States.

F. International Entities
International entities like United Nation Organization and its agencies (UNO, 1945), North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (N.A.T.O,1949)Commonwealth Group of Nations, World Trade
Organization (WTO,1995),European Union(EU,1993) and other entities were established
to deliberate upon issues of world peace and human rights, international cooperation,
environmental degradation, international trade and other subjects, from a common
platform.
Some scholars such as Harold J. Laski (1893-1950) and C.A Striet have regarded the role of
international entities in governing the relation of a state and its individuals with rest of the
world, as the next stage of development and not as the decline of Nation-States. C.A
Striet, in his book Union Now advocates federal union for the existing democracies of the
World.

V. ELEMENTS OF A STATE
According to J. W. Garner, 'state is a community of persons more or less numerous, permanently
occupying a definite portion of territory, independent or nearly so, of external control and
possessing an organised Government to which the great body of inhabitants render habitual
obedience.' The definition given by Garner contains all the elements of the state.
The state must possess four elements, namely, population, territory, government and
sovereignty.

A. Population
The state is a human association constituted by the people living there. Population is an
essential element of a state. It is the people who make a state, without them there can be
no state. The people are the ones who create the state. They also maintain the resources,
live on the land, and form the Government. The population must be large enough to make
a state and sustain it.

13
 Plato (429-347 B.C.E) in his book The Laws suggested a figure of 5040 citizens for
constituting an ideal State. Aristotle (384-322 BCE) states that the population of a state
should neither be so large that administration may be inconvenient nor so small that
people may not lead a life of peace and security.

Stephen Leacock (1869-1944),an English political writer had stated that the population
must be sufficient in number to maintain a state organization, and that it ought not to be
greater than the territorial area and resources that the state is capable of supporting.

On the nature of population, it may be homogeneous or heterogeneous in respect of race,

religion, language or culture. Countries such as India, United States of America, and
Canada have population marked with such diversity. People's Republic of China has a
population of more than 1300 million people, whereas the smallest state in the world
Vatican has a population of only 1200 people.

B. Territory
A state is a territorial institution. The fixed territory
and population of a state gives it a physical identity
in the eyes of municipal law and international law.
The functions of a state, as a political and legal
community of human beings, must first of all be
exercised in a given territory. Territory is a
geographical area that is owned and controlled by a
Government or country to exercise State
sovereignty. Aristotle (384-322 BCE) favoured the
State having moderate size. Montesquieu (1689-1775) said that there is a necessary
connection between the size of the state and the form of government best suited to it. The
fact is that the states of the world vary in terms of demographic strength. San Marino has
an area of 36 sq. miles, whereas the United States of America has a territory of 37,38,395
square miles.
Territory is therefore generally described as land which belongs to the state and
individuals, internal waters and territorial sea (straits) which state claims for sovereignty,
and the airspace above this territory.-(land, bodies of water, atmosphere and natural
resources). Resources such as agriculture, livestock, minerals, oil, natural gas and forestry
can be found on land.
Territories constitute the physical basis of the state. Nomads and gypsies can have no state
because they lead a wandering life. It is important that a state should possess an
undisputed territory of its own over which it should have exclusive jurisdiction,
Furthermore, it should have territorial contiguity, i.e., geographically it should be one
composite whole. A fixed territory is not essential to the existence of a state provided that

14
 there is an acceptable degree of what is characterized as 'consistency' in the nature of the
territory in question, and of its population. In fact all modern states are contained within
territorial limits.
In brief, a territory does not need to possess geographical unity, and it may even consist of
territorial areas which lack connection, or are distant from one another. For instance,
islands or other territories which are part of the mainland still constitute of territory of a
state.

C. Government
Government is the political and administrative organ of a State. The state operates
through its government. The state consists of all its citizens, and is a broader concept. The
Government is the sum total of legislative, executive, and judicial activities of a state.
(Their functions are discussed in the upcoming chapters). It also includes internal bodies,
sub - state governing authorities at the local and regional levels, such as the Municipal
Corporations, Municipal Councils, Panchayats and Gram Sabhas in India. The government
of a state makes provisions for the services of defence, foreign relations, levy of taxes,
issue of currency, building of roads, bridges, transportation, communication, water
supply, electricity, health education and other types of social and physical infrastructure.
The government of a state shall be so organized that it enforces law to maintain order,
peace and security.
As the role of a state changes, so does the form of government. (Different forms of
government are discussed in the upcoming chapter).

D. Sovereignty
Sovereignty is the crucial factor that distinguishes the state from other associations.
Without territory there can be no state in the technical sense of the term. Sovereignty is
the most essential ingredient and characteristic in the formation of the state. No state can
exist without internal and external sovereignty. Internal sovereignty means that the
people residing within the territory of the state give their unqualified obedience and
support to the authority of the state, and further that the state is supreme in all its internal
matters. It is by virtue of its sovereignty that the state makes its laws and decisions and
issue commands which are binding on all citizens. The right to use legitimate coercion in its
own right is exclusive to a state. Internal revolts or external aggressions may disturb a
state, but the state continues to exist so long as it has legitimate sovereignty.
External sovereignty is understood as the freedom of state from external control and
influence. The state should be treated at par with other states and should not be assigned
any inferior position. The state should be free to enact its own laws as well as foreign
policy without any external pressure.

15
 Presently 'international recognition' is also considered as an essential element of the state.
That implies the recognition of the sovereignty of the state over agiven territory and
population by other states.
2
Match the given concepts [1-10] with their respective meanings/illustrations [a-j].

1. Greek City States a. direction and control of citizens of a

state/community
2. Territory b. transient populations dependent on only on
essentials of survival
3. Plato's The Laws c. signatories do not intervene in the
domestic or foreign affairs of another
state, recognize territorial gains made by
force
4. International Entities d. Heterogeneity
5. Montevideo Convention e. applying democratic laws within a state and
between states
6. Nomads and gypsies f. land and waters or areas under the
jurisdiction of a state/sovereign
7. C A Streit's view g. lacking physical identity in the eyes of
municipal law and international law
8. Diversity of people in a state/nation h. development of cooperation, solving
economic, social, cultural, and
humanitarian problems
9. Oriental Empire i. unity, order, universal law and cultural
refinement
10 Government j. theoretical analysis of population size,
welfare and security

VI. ROLE OF A STATE

Political thinkers have different opinion regarding the role of the state. In the words of Professor
MacIver," the state has no finality, can have no perfected form. The state is an instrument of
social man". To many scholars the functions of the state are also different. Some considers state
as a moral and ethical institution whereas others consider it as an evil institution. Mac Iver has
referred to different notions of the state such as class organization, legal institution, mutual
insurance agency, unnecessary evil, necessary evil, the march of God on earth, welfare system,
power system state as an organism etc.

16
Andrew Heywood, an English political writer in his book Politics, classifies the role of the State
based on the functions or responsibilities which are fulfilled by the state and the ones that are
left to private individuals. It will be instructive to examine the following classifications.

A. Minimal States
The ideal of minimal states is a contribution of Classical Liberals. Names of political
thinkers such as John Locke, Jeremy Bentham, J. S. Mill, Herbert Spencer, Robert Nozick,
Friedrich Von Hayek and Milton Friedman are generally associated with this approach. The
idea is to ensure the widest possible individual liberty. People who ascribe a minimal role
to the state believe that a laissez-faire ("let it be" or "leave it alone") approach to the
economy is most likely to lead to economic prosperity. State's role is to protect individuals
from interference in their liberty and that transactions between private individuals are
voluntary and free. According to John Locke's theory, 'state acts as a night watchman'
whose services are called upon when orderly existence is threatened. The state must
exercise the basic role of providing protection from external attacks, enforcing
agreements and maintaining domestic order. Minimal states playa minimum role in
interfering with the social and economic life of the subjects.

B. Developmental States
A 'developmental state' is characterized by having strong state intervention, as well as
extensive regulation and planning. The term 'developmental state' describes the state's
essential role in harnessing national resources and directing incentives through a
distinctive policy-making process. The first person to seriously conceptualize the
developmental state was Chalmers Johnson (1931-2010). Johnson defined the
developmental state as a state that is focused on economic development and takes
necessary policy measures to accomplish that objective.

C. Social Democratic States

Social democratic states are the ideal type of states viewed by modern liberals and
democratic socialists. The state functions on the principle of fairness, equality and equal
distribution of wealth to achieve social, political and economic justice, equality and
empowerment of its people. The state is considered necessary to promote economic
growth and social well- being of its people.

D. Collectivized States
They undertake the control of economic life, by bringing common ownership of all
economic resources under their own control for the welfare of all. The state makes laws to
control the private property of their citizens. Peoples' Republic of China follows such a

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 policy. The state takes care of the economic needs of its citizens i.e.,provides food,
shelter, employment and the citizens must not act against the government policies.

E. Totalitarian States
Philosophers like Hegel and dictators such as Hitler and Mussolini held that the state must
have absolute powers and individuals have no right against the state. According to this
view, the state can do no wrong. The whole life of an individual is within the jurisdiction of
the state.

F. Modern Welfare State

Irrespective of the classification, functions of a modern welfare state include the
maintenance of law and order, establishment of justice, defence, public security and
foreign relations, maintenance of public health and sanitation, water supply, transport
and communication system, supply of power, electricity and essential commodities,
control of banking, currency and inflation, preservation of forests, checking of trading and
control of prices and measurements etc. Other functions include the removal of social
exploitation and establishment of social unity, provision of economic and other benefits to
weaker sections, social security to old age people, widows, orphans and disabled,
protection of workers by regulating minimum wages, pension, education of the masses,
encouragement of art and literature, scientific and technological research and cultural
exchanges to increase the spirit of cultural unity and harmony among the masses.

VII. CONCEPT OF A NATION

The terms State and Nation are used interchangeably. In the study of varied political
institutions, the term 'Nation' carries a different meaning. Etymologically, the term 'Nation'
emerges from the Latin term 'Natio' meaning "to be born'. A nation is a people descended from a
common stock with homogeneous factors. It means a people brought together by the ties of
blood relationship. Nation is a body of people united by common descent and language. In the
views of Barker, nation is a body of persons inhabiting a definite territory and united together by
the fact of living together on a common land. They may come from a number of races but by
living together, they develop certain things in common. It is necessary that the people living
within the state have a feeling of oneness.

Lord Bryce defines nation as a nationality which has organized itself into a political body either
independent or desiring to be independent. The definition given by Barker explains that people
become a nation when they live together by exercising their right of political self -
determination. The World Book Dictionary defines a nation as "the people occupying the same
country, united under the same government, and usually speaking the same language".

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Right to Self Determination is recognized as an international principleof law based on equal
rights, opportunity for the states to choose their political status with no external compulsion or
interference. The United Nations Organization has given its approval to this cardinal principle.
The U.N. General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) grants independence to colonial countries. In
other words, question of government ought to be decided by the governed as a matter of the
right to self -determination. The concept nation encompasses the feeling of oneness that is 'We'
among the people.

A nation also has certain essential elements, such as:

2
Common race

2
Common religious sentiments

2
Common residence on a defined territory

2
Common political aspirations

2
Common language

2
Common culture

2
Common interests of trade economy

2
Common historical traditions

India's struggle for independence from British regime is the classic example of its people uniting
themselves to form a nation, to establish India as an independent sovereign state. The preamble
of the Indian Constitution states that the people of India have resolved to constitute India into a
sovereign, socialist, secular democratic republic and to secure to all its citizens justice, liberty,
equality and fraternity. Part I of the Constitution of India (Articles 1 to 4) describes the Union and
its Territory; Part II of Constitution (Articles 5 to 11) describes the conditions for being a citizen
of India; Part XVII of Constitution (Articles 343 to 351) describes the official languages of India.
(These topics are dealt with, in detail, in the following chapters)

In modern times, most nations of the world carry a certain degree of diversity because of the
effects of migration and globalization. It is said that globalization has turned the world into a
small village.

The events and decisions in one part of the world can affect other States and their policies. The
interdependence of states on one another for trade, market, resources and other numerous
factors has added a new concept of 'pooled sovereignty' in the study of international relations
and political institutions.

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2
Based on your understanding, answer the following briefly in a word or two:

1. An individual enjoys the highest form of freedom _______________

2. A collectivized State never supports____________________________.

3. The ideology of Fascism is associated with __________________________

4. A frequently associated meaning of 'Nation' is ________________

5. Political self -determination' means______________________________

6. Minimal States are characterised by______________________________ by the

government.

7. Indians fought the colonial rulers after identifying themselves as a _______________

8. ____________________ deals with the official language/s of India.

9. Diversity of population is found where there is a high degree of _______________ and

________________ of people.

2
Answer the following in a paragraph of about 150 words each:

1. Define a State. Explain the emergence of a State.

2. Explain the theories about the origin of a State.

3. What necessary elements constitute a State?

4. Write notes on the following:

a. The role of the State.

b. Comparative views on the Social Contract Theory.

c. Concept of a Nation.

5. What are the types of states?

2
Work in groups/pairs or individually:

2
Allot yourself a role as a leader in one of a State type: Minimal/Oriental/Greek
city/Feudal/Democratic.

2
Resolve the given issue with justification for your suggestions. Share them with the class.
Be ready to defend yourself by doing more reference work/research about the government
of your/group's allotted role.

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2
Find out more through reference work, and share your findings with the class. Present your
ideas as an illustrative poster or a short speech.

Parliamentary Monarchy
Government

Democracy

Pluralism

Kinds of
Government Dictatorship

Totalitarianism
Anarchism

Constitutional
Government Communism

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