Question

what is state ?explaiy the different element of the state​

Answer 1

• The modern term “state” is derived from the word “status”. It was Niccolo  who first used the term “state” in his writings. His important work is titled as “Prince”.  The state is the most universal and most powerful of all social institutions. The state is a natural institution

• The state is the highest form of human association. It is necessary because it comes into existence out of the basic needs of life . Aristotle defined the state as a “union of families and villages having for its end a perfect and self – sufficing life by which it meant a happy and good life”. Burgess defines the state as “a particular portion of mankind viewed as an organized unit.”

THE ELEMENTS OF STATE

• Population Territory Government Sovereignty Population It is the people who make the state. Population is essential for the state.  the number of people living in a state should be neither too large nor too small. It should be large enough to be self sufficing and small enough to be well governed.

• Greek thinkers like Plato and Aristotle thinking on the number was based on small city – states like Athens and Sparta. Modern states vary in population. India has a population of 102,70,15,247 people according to 2001 census.

• Territory There can be no state without a fixed territory. People need territory to live and organize themselves socially and politically. It may be remembered that the territory of the state includes land, water and air – space. The modern states differ in their sizes. Territory is necessary for citizenship.

• Prof. Elliott “territorial sovereignty or the Superiority of state overall within its boundaries and complete freedom from external control has been a fundamental principle of the modern state life”. India has an area of 32,87,263 sq. km. Approximately India occupies 2.4% of the global area.

• : Government is the third element of the state. There can be no state without government. Government is the working agency of the state. It is the political organization of the state. Prof. Appadorai defined government as the agency through which the force of the State is formulated, expressed and realized. According to C.F. Strong, in order to make and enforce laws the state must have highest authority. This is called the Government.

•  The fourth essential element of the state is sovereignty. The word ”sovereignty” means supreme and final legal authority above and beyond which no legal power exists Sovereignty has two aspects :

• Internal sovereignty

• External sovereignty

Internal sovereignty means that the State is supreme over all its citizens, and associations.

External sovereignty means that the state is independent and free from foreign or outside control.