State

A state is a political association that enjoys control over a definite geographical area. For example, Indian state – Government of India exercises control over all individuals, groups, associations within its geographical boundaries.

A state is also considered as any institution that can legitimately exercise force over people in a certain geographical area – for example, Indian Judiciary, Indian Police, Military, use force to establish law and order among citizens in any part of India.

Aristotle defines ‘state’ as ‘a union of families and villages having for its end a perfect and self-sufficing life by which we mean a happy and honorable life’.

Woodrow Wilson defines ‘state’ as ‘the people organized for law within a definite territory’.

Dimensions of State

1.       State is a union of different individuals, groups , families and sections of society. State provides the legal bond that holds society together.

2.       State has a purpose. State is created for a reason: to enable individuals to have a better life. If there is no state there will be lawlessness and disorder. Therefore, state establishes law and order and secures people’s basic human rights.

3.       The state comprises of four elements:

a.       Population – State exists for the people. No population, no state.

b.       Territory – State has a fixed geographical area where people reside and government exercises control.

c.       Government – State creates and executes laws so that there is order in society.

d.       Sovereignty – Government has independence of functioning i.e. free from any external or foreign influence.

4.       State institutions should command people’s obedience. People should be loyal by obeying the laws and following government policies.

5.       State should have a degree of permanence i.e. it should have secure territorial boundaries.

6.       State should have Military capabilities – Army, Navy and Air Force to defend its people and territory in case of foreign attack.

7.       State should be organized. In India we have the Constitution, a government, judiciary, public administrative system, laws and regulations.

8.       State reconciles individualism with communitarianism – it forms a balance between individual needs and community needs. For e.g. the right to speech and expressions should not be used to insult others or hurt sentiments or provoke violence.

9.       The term state can be used to imply a political sub unit – 29 states in India – Rajasthan, Maharashtra, etc.

10.   State is different from country and nation. According to Political Science, ‘country’ is referred to a geographical area, and ‘nation’ is a community of people who share a sense of belonging to each other (oneness, unity).