UNIT

2 State

Dear Students, in the last chapter

the discipline Political Science was
introduced to you. Did you question
what is Political Science dealing with?
If Botany is concerned with the study
of plants and sociology the study of
society then what Political Science is
about? What is the main focus of study
of Political Science?

Introduction
Political Science is the systematic
study of State. We all live in State. The  Learning Objectives
world is viewed as an embodiment of
 This explanatory chapter about
many States. State as an idea or a concept
the State will enable you to
is derived from a historical process of
understand what are the major
political, cultural, religious and economic
concerns of the study of political
contexts of a region. Today when the word
science especially what is State
‘State’ is mentioned and used it usually
and its functions.
indicate the modern State. The world today
 Demonstrate the different views
comprises of modern States. Modern State
of various thinkers about the
is a public order completely different from
State.
the pre-modern notion comprising of a
body politics consisting of the rulers and  Introduce you the elements of the
the ruled. Hence a proper understanding State.
of what State is and what not is quite
essential to students of political science.  Facilitate you to identify the
linkage between Society, State
Yes, we all live in ‘State’. We start and Government.
to interact with the State even without
a proper awareness of State. The road  Familiarize the concepts of
facilities, health care, electricity, water, Modern State, Welfare State and
and sanitation are a few examples that Soft State.
connect us with the State. State compels us
to do certain things and at the same time

23
restrains us from doing certain things. is derived from the word ‘status’. It was
Any failure to obey the State will lead to Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 – 1527) who
punishment. Hence one can conclude that first used the term ‘State’ in his writings.
law and freedom of State are subjected The state is necessary because it comes
to certain conditions laid by the State into existence out of the basic needs of life.
itself. State also ensures that our lives and It continues to remain for the sake of good
property are protected. Thus whether we life. The aims, desires, and aspirations of
are interested or not, the State is certainly human beings are translated into action
interested in us as its population. Should through the State. Though the State is a
we not then study the State? necessary institution, no two writers agree
on its definition. This disagreement makes
2.1 Meaning and Definition of State the study of the State more creative and
interesting. For instance, we have social
The State is the most universal and
Contract theory in political science. The
most powerful of all social institutions.
three main thinkers associated with social
The State is a natural
contract theory are Thomas Hobbes, John
institution. Aristotle
Locke and Jean Jack Rousseau. The three
said ‘Man (Human)
thinkers collectively agree that humans
is a social animal
need to be controlled by the State. At the
and by nature s/he
same time, they disagree on to what extent
is a political being.
the control can be exercised by the State
To him, to live in the
on humans.
State and to be a man
were identical. The modern term ‘state’

Political
Human Nature State of Nature Social contract
Thinkers
Man is a wolf unto his
Hobbes A state of war Leviathan
fellow man
Man has perfect Property is not
Locke Common wealth
freedom secure
Man is free but No security or State guided by
Rousseau
immoral morality the general will

ACTIVITY

Find ME…. The social Contract Theory of the State was put forth by the
three main proponents collectively called contractualists. The three agreed that
humans need to be controlled by the State. But to what extent that control should be
has been debated in their unique way. Find out who the three are?

24
Definition of State 2.2 Essential Elements of State
 To Woodrow Wilson, “State is people Thus, from the above descriptions,
organized for law within a definite you can easily conclude that State should
territory.” have certain essential components. The
 Aristotle defined the State as a “union of state is a set of institutions which has an
families and villages having for its end a unquestionable authority over people. It is
perfect and self – sufficing life by which hence all modern States have their own
it meant a happy and honorable life”. Constitution that moderates the freedom
 To Holland, the State is “a numerous and privileges of the citizens of the State
assemblage of human beings generally with the coercive and unquestionable
occupying a certain territory amongst power of the State. Hence Constitution is
whom the will of the majority or class considered as a limiting agent on the
is made to prevail against any of their overwhelming authority of the State.
number who oppose it.”
 Burgess defines the State as “a particular
portion of mankind viewed as an ACTIVITY
organised unit.”
 What would be the condition
 According to Sidgwick. “State is a
combination or association of persons in of people in a state without a
the form of government and governed Constitution?
and united together into a politically  What is called breakdown
organised people of a definite territory.” of Constitutional
 According to Garner, “State is a machinery?
community of people occupying a
definite form of territory free of external The Montevideo Convention on
control and possessing an organised
Rights and Duties of States held in 1933
government to which people show
gave the fundamental understanding
habitual obedience.”
of State. A State must have a permanent
 Prof. Laski defines “State as a territorial population, a defined territory and a
society divided into government government that can control the territory
and subjects whose relationships are
and its people and conducts international
determined by the exercise of supreme
relations with other States. Consequently,
coercive power.”

25
the recognition of a State by other States the people, Indians live. We Indians
becomes crucial for the legitimacy of the have our Government. India is a State
State from an external point of view. You that has a status in the world and exists
would be reading more when you read independently. India is not bound by the
about Sovereignty. rules of any other State. It can enter into
treaties with other States. We have our
Let us attempt to understand what the diplomats in all countries and their offices
essential elements of State are? are called ‘Diplomatic Mission’. An Indian
Think of India as a State and try Embassy in the USA is generally known
to answer what makes India, our country as ‘India in the USA’. In Puducherry, the
to qualify for a State? Firstly, India has Consulate General of France is called
a well-defined territory. In India we France in India.

ACTIVITY

Reason out:

 Have you noticed that there is always agreement in the physical map of the World
and not Political Map depicting countries border? Find out the reasons why?
 What is Statelessness? Have you read about the Tibetan Government in Exile?
What is Political Asylum?
 What will be the situation of humans without State? Would it be peaceful or
violent? Examine these questions with the case of Syria (as in the year 2017).

State

People/Population Territory Government Sovereignty

26
 Census 2011: population pegged at 121.02 cr

CENSUS2011 The population of India

at 121.02 cr is almost
2001-2011 is the first
decade (with the exception
15th CENSUS of INDIA SINCE 1872
equal to the combined of 1911-1921) which has added
Cost ₹ 22,00Cr population of USA, Indonesia, lesser population compared to
Cost per person ₹ 18.19 Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh the previous decade
No. of census functionaries 0.27Cr and Japan
No. of languages in which The population has Overall sex ratio at the national
16 level has increased by 7
schedules were canvassed grown by more than
No. of languages in which training 18.1Cr during the points since Census 2001
manuals were prepared 18 decade 2001-2011 to reach 940
Paper utilised 8,000 MTs POPULATION OF INDIA: 1901-2011
Material moved 10,500 MTs In Cr
Census 2001
Sex ratio:933

102.87
68.33

84.64
Males Females

121.02
532.2mn 495.5mn

54.82
(51.74%) (48.28%)

43.92
Census 2011

38.17
Sex ratio:940
27.81

31.67

Males Females
623.7mn 588.5.5mn
25.13
23.84

25.21

(51.54%) (48.48%)

1901 ‘11 ‘21 ‘31 ‘41 ‘51 ‘61 ‘71 ‘81 ‘91 2001 ‘11

Census 2011
 The post-independence census in the country has been conducted once in ten years.
Under the constitutional provisions by notification under the census Act 1948.
 In the last census, operations conducted in our country in 2011, the enumerators
and supervisors has focused on the house listing and housing Census. The type
of information gathered on the household, its head, amenities and assets. It also
includes the total number of residents, use of the census house and material used for
floor, wall and roof.
 Other details include the name of the head of the household, gender, community,
ownership, number of dwelling rooms, number of married couples. The enumerators
would also seek details on the amenities available in the household such as sources of
drinking water outlet, latrine, waste water outlet, bathing facility, kitchens and fuel
used for cooking.
 They would record information, on the use of banking services and assets, such as
radio, TV, computer, internet connection, telephone, bicycle, motorcycle and car.

27
 With the help of the Box Item answer the following table

Decade Total Population (in million) Annual Growth Rate

1901 238.4 --
1911 252.1 0.56
1921 261.3 -0.03
1931 279.0 1.04
1941 318.7 1.33
1951 361.1 1.25
1961 439.1 1.96
1971 548.2 2.20
1981 683.3 2.22
1991 846.4 2.14
2001 1028.7 1.97
2011 1210.7 1.64

a) In which decade has the population decreased in comparison to the last decade?

b) In which decade is the population growth rate the highest?

c) In which decade the population growth rate the lowest?

d) Define Census. What is the importance of the study of population?

e) Mention any three features of the Census 2011.

Population
It is the people who make the State. The population is essential for the State.
What should be the size of the population has been a debate by thinkers from ancient
time. According to Plato, the ideal number would be 5040. According to Aristotle, the
number should be neither too large nor too small. It should be large enough to be self –
sufficient and small enough to be well governed. Rousseau determined 10,000 to be an
ideal number for a State. Ancient thinkers view on the number was based on the small
city – States like Athens and Sparta. The modern States vary in population. India has a
population of 121.02 cr people according to 2011 census of India.

28
 ACTIVITY
Find
According to Plato, the ideal census
number of State is 5040. The reason is  What is Census?
the number 5040 is divisible by numbers
 Why Census is important?
from 1 to 12. In the case of 11 the reminder
is 2. During the time of emergency the Have you heard about the census process
population can be divided in various of the Roman Empire? Identify the
columns and instructions could be given. institutions associated with census in
India.

Territory
Can State be without territory? Certainly not. People need territory to live and to
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. The
territory is necessary for citizenship. As in the case of population, no definite size with
regard to extent of the area of the State can be fixed. There are small and big States. In the
words of 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. The opening article of the Indian Constitution speaks about the Territory of India.

ACTIVITY

Not to Scale

 Should the territory of State be continuous or can be scattered? Examine the

French Territories.
 Find out to the status of Antarctica.

 What is called maritime boundary line?

 Which is the smallest State by the size of its territory?

29
  Can there be a Permanent Chief Minister or Permanent Prime
Minister in a democracy?
 Find out the maximum term of office, a person can be elected as
President of the United States of America? Why?

ACTIVITY Sovereignty

Look at the newspaper advertisement The fourth essential element of the

given by the Government of India. State is sovereignty. The word ‘sovereignty”
Answer the following questions: means supreme and final legal authority
above. No legal power can exist beyond
 What do you understand by the
sovereignty. The concept of “sovereignty”
word ‘State’? was developed in conjunction with the rise
of the modern State. The term Sovereignty
 List five ways in which you think
is derived from the Latin word “superanus”
that the government affects your
which means “supreme”. In a traditional
daily life.
understanding, the characteristics of
 Why do you think the State needs
sovereignty are absoluteness, permanence,
to make rules for everyone in the universality, indivisibility, exclusiveness,
form of laws? and inalienability.

Government
There is a restriction of movement of
individuals from one State to another
Government is the working agency State in the name of territorial
of the State. It is the political organization sovereignty. But sitting in one country
of the State. Indian political scientist Prof. you can communicate to a person to
A. Appadurai defined government as the another country using the internet.
agency through which, the will of the State How do you see this to do with the
is formulated, expressed and realized. sovereignty of the States? Examine
According to C.F. Strong, in order to why social networking websites like
make and enforce laws, the State must Facebook, twitter and YouTube are
banned in some countries.
have a supreme authority. Government
is a fixed structure. Political executives
The father of the modern theory of
who get elected to offices may change but
sovereignty was Jean Bodin (1530 – 1597)
Government as a system is a permanent
a French political thinker. According to
body of State. The State existed before the
Harold J. Laski, “It is by possession of
people come to power and it will exist after
sovereignty that the State is distinguished
these men and women in power leaves the
from all other forms of human association”.
control of the State.

30
Human Association would mean anything manner where each ones’ need is met out
from family, society and even voluntary by the collective output of the whole. Thus
organization similar kinds through which when an individual is labouring for earning
humans identify themselves together. his food there arose an inevitable situation
that labour results in productivity. The
2.3 Society, state and Government produced goods thus required a market
Let us examine what Society, State supplemented by the invention of another
and Government mean and how are they institution called trade. When goods are
interrelated. produced and marketed, it is clear that
the situation could turn in favour of a few
who are mighty. When society is governed
SOCIETY
by the rule of might, then ultimately that
would cause the society to disintegrate
and fall apart.
GOVERNMENT
STATE When society degenerates, it has a
consequent effect on the communities and
ultimately upon its constituent families
and each and every individual would lead
Society, State and Government – How to suffering. Thus, it was, for this reason,
are they interrelated? humans came together, guided by reason
felt the need of the State.
Each one of us live simultaneously
in family, society, and State. What does State came into existence out of an
this mean? How society and State are imminent need that in the absence of a
interrelated? What is government to do centralized and a coercive authority human
with the State and the society? cannot be saved from each other. This
control in modern States is done legally
Historically when humans evolved through a set of rules and regulations. In
from hunters and gatherers to a settled a democracy, these rules and regulations
community, they started to produce are framed by the legislature, enforced by
goods. Group of families constituted a the executive and the judiciary adjudicates
community and a group of communities the made laws and the implemented
constituted what we call as a society. laws on the basis of their legality and
Individuals for their emotional need that judiciousness. The function of law
is often reciprocal lived in the family. making, implementing and interpreting is
the function of government. You will read
Families came together under the
more about this as separation of powers.
umbrella of the community for a greater
objective of security. The communities so
formed made a higher level of organization
called society solely to live in an organized

31
 ACTIVITY

Identify how state plays role from education to employment. Also find out the subsidies
given by the state to agriculture sector, regulation made by the state for the functioning
of the industrial sector and facilitation role played by the state in service sector.
These are the initiation taken by Tamil Nadu to promote Agriculture, Industries and
services.
Agriculture Services
subsidy for inputs like seeds, power to  Global investment meet
make agriculture profitable for farmers held in Tamil Nadu in 2016
Industries  Tax Sops introduced in
 Single window clearance mechanism Tamil Nadu Budget
 Facilitating land acquisition
 24x7 power supply

Major Differences between State and society

The society consists of a large number of individuals, families, groups, and institutions.
The early political thinkers considered both State and society as one. The state is a part of
society but is not a form of society.

STATE SOCIETY
State came into existence after the origin
Society is prior to the State.
of the society.
The scope of the State is limited. The scope of society is much wider

The state has fixed territory. Society has no fixed territory.

The state is a political organization. Society is a social organization.

The State has the power to enforce laws. Society has no power to enforce laws.

32
 The membership of the State and society are the same. But they differ as regards
to their purpose. The State exists for one great but single, purpose; society exists
for a number of purposes; some great and some small. From the point of view of the
organization, the State is a single organization – legal, whereas society comprises within
itself many organizations. The State exercises its control over humans by coercion and
exact obedience. On the other hand, the society employs a method of voluntary action.
The purposes for which society exists makes the persuasive methods necessary. The
multiplicity of the organization of society gives ample opportunity to the members to
relinquish one association and join another in the event they are subject to any coercion.
Thus you must understand a State without a centralized authority of coercive force and a
society without the method of persuasion will fall apart.

State and Government

Government is often used with the ‘State’ as a synonym. But both the government
and the State are two different entities. There are differences between the State and the
government. They are explained in the table given below.

STATE GOVERNMENT
The state consists of population, territory,
Government is part of the State.
government and sovereignty.
Powers of the government are derived
The state possesses original powers.
from the State.
The state is permanent and continues Government is temporary. Governments
forever. can be replaced with peoples will
State is abstract and invisible Government is concrete and is visible.

Modern State
Before examining the functions of Modern State, you must understand what is Modernity?
What is called as a Modern State?
ACTIVITY

 List the contribution of modernity to science and

technology. Occidentalism is the term associated with
modernity. Have you come across the works of Avishai
Margalit on Occidentalism?

 Why Mahatma Gandhi criticized modernity in his work

“Hind Swaraj’?

33
 In Political science, modernity
DEBATE impacted on the concepts of State, liberty,
equality, justice and so on. For instance,
 Is M. K. Gandhi against Modernity? the meaning of patriots, revolution, rights,
privileges, sovereignty was understood
 Do you agree with M. K. Gandhi’s differently given their historical context.
view? Conduct a critical debate in Similarly, the term State was understood
differently during the time of the Greek City
the classroom.
State. State means completely different when
it is referred to a modern State as a form of
Modernity in historical term means political organization evolved in modern
the period of questioning the tradition or western Europe dating to medieval ages.
rejecting the age-old set of beliefs, practices The rational foundation of modern State is
and socio-cultural norms. Modernity laid often argued to be the treaty of Westphalia
the foundations of the prioritization of signed in the year 1648.
individualism, freedom, equality, fostering
of scientific temper in every walk of life The idea of modern State was exported
and thus modernity led humans from throughout the world during the nineteenth
agrarianism towards industrialization, century by the process of European
urbanization, and secularization. This Colonization. The South Asian States that
intellectual shift drastically influenced the became independent from colonial control
after second world war can be brought under
understanding of the society, State and
the umbrella of post-colonial States and can
government. For instance, the efforts of
be compared with the post-colonial States of
Raja Ram Mohan Roy to reform the Indian
the other parts of the world to assess their
society are directly linked with the influence relative merits and drawbacks for improving
of western modernity on Indian thinkers. their governance systems.

ACTIVITY

 What are the reasons for the treaty of Westphalia?

 Find out what is the ‘Peace of Westphalia’?

34
2.4 Functions of Modern State later as the ‘United Nations Organisation
and have been debating the terms security
The modern State is a developed State.
and defence in terms of promoting peace.
The State should strive to keep its people
secure and safe. The State should ensure Economic functions
that its borders are sealed and protected.
The market needs to be integrated into The modern state is supposed to
the society by a well-knit macroeconomic intervene in the economic functions of
structure. ‘Citizen first’ should be the the political system. The State needs to
motto of all the activities of the State. The support the people, make them realize
sole principle of governance of modern their potential for their betterment. Try
State is whether the action of the State understanding what Martha Nusbaum
leads to the promotion of the welfare of explain about ‘capabilities’ and what
its people. Accordingly, the State engages does Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen’s
itself as a provider of essential services. ideas on ‘capability approach’. Protecting
consumers, weaker sections, investing in
It is largely accepted that the modern areas where there is no profit are those
State focuses on three main functions. included in the economic functions of the
modern state.

Functions Provision of Essential Services

From ‘cradle to grave’ modern state
is supposed to care for its citizens. The
Security and Defence fundamental needs such as food, clean
drinking water, providing education,
healthcare, and social security for the
Economic population are the responsibilities of the
modern state. You can find the number of
schemes and projects of Government of
India and the various state governments
Provision of
to be in this direction. The noon meal
Essential Services
scheme and the nutrition’s meal schemes
in all Government schools initiated by the
Security and Defense Government of Tamil Nadu and adopted
in different parts of the country is one
The States of today’s world consider
such example.
the meaning of security from multiple
standpoints. Terms like Human Security The modern State strived for the
have emerged to put citizens first. Inspired welfare of its people and hence another
by the philosopher Immanuel Kant’s idea concept came into existence called
of perpetual peace, the States of the world ‘Welfare State’.
came together as ‘league of nations’ and

35
2.5 Concept of Welfare State and a huge population has been the
impediment in realizing the goals of the
Have you ever noticed that the Welfare State.
Directive principles of the State policy
of the Indian Constitution have been The concept of welfare State has its
placarding the western European idea of origin in Western Europe after the Second
the Welfare State? Have you ever thought World War. The main idea of welfare State
why the propelling mechanisms of socio- is that the government of welfare State
economic development have been kept in plays a vital role in human development.
Part IV of the Constitution as an advisory The role of the welfare State extends to the
to the State whereas the guarantee of protection and promotion of the well being
political and civil rights has been made as a of its citizens. The economic and social
non-negotiable guarantee as Fundamental well being of the citizens is based on (1)
Right? What is the reason? Why could The principle of equality of opportunity
economic rights figure as the part of (2) Equitable distribution of wealth (3)
Fundamental right in the constitution? Public responsibility for those who cannot
afford themselves the minimal provisions
It is a reality that the abundance of for leading a good life.
resources with a minimal population has
been the main reason for the successful India before independence was a
functioning of welfare State model. The Colonial State under British rule. Indians
Scandinavian countries are excellent were subjects of the English crown. Once
examples of welfare State. Though the India attained Independence, we had our
Constitution of India strives for a welfare Constitution that has been deeply inspired
State the non-abundance of resources by the western model of welfare State.

ACTIVITY

 Examine the relevance of MGNREGA, Right to Education Act, The National Food
Security Act. Are these rights, legal rights or fundamental right?
 Find out the total budget outlay for implementing these Acts in the last five years.
 Discuss about the contributions of J.S. Mill and H.J.Laski towards the concept of
welfare state.

36
2.6 Concept of Soft State As a student identify the list of social
indiscipline and the ways of correcting
Nobel Laureate Karl Gunnar Myrdal
them from your view.
identified what he called as societal
indiscipline in the Asian States when 2.7 Concept of Over Developed State
compared to the western countries. He
identified this societal indiscipline as Almost all the States of South Asia
the characteristics of soft State. Social are modern democracies. Yet, what makes
indiscipline, corruption, and weak law them lag behind the western countries in
enforcement are the main characteristics development? When the institutions of
of a soft State. governance such as the Parliament, the
bureaucracy, and the planning machinery
ACTIVITY are imported and customized during
colonial times, why is it that development
 In western countries, the gender of
is a slow process in these countries? Hamza
the unborn baby (fetus) is disclosed
Alawi, explains the case of the gover
as part of the standard procedure and
nability crisis of Pakistan and Bangladesh
it is usual that the expecting mother
using the concept of Over Developed State
knows the gender of the unborn baby.

 Why in India the Pre-Conception

and Pre-Natal Diagnostic ACTIVITY
Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994
Try watching the Tamil movie
prohibits the communication of
“Thanneer Thanneer” Discuss the
gender of the foetus to the pregnant
theme of the movie.
woman or to her relatives by words,
signs or any other method?
Tamil Movie “Thanneer Thanneer”
A small village
The post-colonial developing States in Tamil Nadu
are generally categorized as soft States faces water
where their institutions of governance scarcity. The
are not fully developed. Our inability to film highlights the plight of the
adhere to standards and to enforce law and villagers and the sufferings they
maintain discipline makes our country as endure at the hands of bureaucrats
a soft State. A soft State cannot advance when they try to resolve their problem.
further in refining its democratic values.

ACTIVITY Overdeveloped State is an

explanation offered to the ineffectiveness
Find the difference between soft of the functioning of post-colonial States
state and soft power, now relate these that operate with the similar structure of
concepts with independent India. bureaucratic governance before and after

37
their independence. Despite political
liberation, the transformative approach “My understanding
did not percolate down the administrative about over developed
structure of the States after they emerged state was different
free from the colonial yoke. The colonial earlier”
powers of western Europe maintained
double standards in designing the polity of 2.8 Concept of post-colonial State
the colonized States. When their respective Do you know why police personnel
States recognized political life, liberty and in western countries are not feared as they
economic freedom of its citizens and in are in the countries that were colonized
total the State was like a pet for its people, by the same western countries? Can you
on the contrast the States were over find out the reason why Government
centralized with unquestionable power in servants in our country are looked up
the colonized States. Such an arrangement with utmost respect as a superior when
was congenial to the colonizers to have they are looked with equal footage in the
unfretted siphoning of wealth from their western countries? At the same time can
colonies. This massive exploitation was you identify the benefits of colonization?
effectively engineered by the bureaucracy Can you list them?
that continued the colonial legacy even
after independence with no or little Post-colonial State is the name of
change in the attitude of the political class new nation States that have emerged out
that replaced the colonial masters. of the process of decolonization after the
Second World War. Post-colonial State is
When the State gets increasingly used synonymously with developmental
modernized when the society and its State. The post-colonial State has the
economy are lagging behind without features of colonial State as far as the
modernization the State and the society political institutions are concerned but
grossly mismatched each other. This there is only a shift in the objective of
creates a divide between the people these institutions.
and the State’s apparatus. What is good
for people are not decided by them in In general, post-colonial States
a representative democracy but by an exhibit a high degree of poverty, political
influential few. In the case of Pakistan instability and the crisis of governance.
and Bangladesh, Hamza Alawai coins the The mismatch between the society with its
word ‘military bureaucracy oligarchy’ that traditional power structure overlapping
is similar to the license raj of India and with modern States has largely resulted in
over-centralization as a continuation of such a situation.
colonial legacy that has been constantly
It is obvious that the Colonial powers
addressed by the government of India.
that ventured into newer worlds destroyed
the main parts of native traditions and
cultures and further constantly replaced

38
them with their own ones. This cultural Security: The state of being free from
import led to conflicts as and when they danger or threat
became independent as they suddenly Society: A large group of people who live
faced the challenge of developing a new together in an organized way, making
national identity and self-confidence. decisions about how to do things and
This is one of the aspects why the sharp sharing the work that needs to be done. All
divide of the ruler and ruled remained the people in a country, or in several similar
in post-colonial States whereby the State countries, can be referred to as a society
actors tend to behave with an upper hand.
Individualism: A social theory favoring
freedom of action for individuals over
Glossary
collective or state control.
State: A nation or territory considered as Scandinavia: Scandinavia is a group of
an organized political community under countries in northern Europe. It always
one government. includes Denmark, Norway and Sweden
Government: The group of people who Bureaucracy: A system for controlling
officially control a country or managing a country, company, or
Social Contract Theory: The theory that organization that is operated by a large
advocates that persons' moral and/or number of officials employed to follow
political obligations are dependent upon rules carefully
a contract or agreement among them to Western Countries: Countries in the
form the society in which they live. west part of the world, especially North
Constitution: A body of fundamental America and countries in the west of
principles or established precedents Europe
according to which a state or other
organization is acknowledged to be
governed

Evaluation

I. Choose the correct answer

1. Name the Political Thinker who first used the word State
a) Niccolo Machiavelli b) Plato c) Aristotle d) Locke

2. Who authored the book ‘Leviathan’?

a) Hobbes b) Locke c) Rousseau d) Morgenthau

3. Which is the main component of State that determine citizenship status

a) Territory b) Government c) Sovereignty d) Population
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4. Which of the following is regarded as the Limiting authority of the State’s Authority
a) Constitution b) Religion c) Judgement d) People

5. “ 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” is stated by
a) Elliot b) Bodin c) Austin d) Machiavelli
6. Who of the following is regarded as the father of Modern Theory of Sovereignty?
a) Jean Bodin b) Hugo Gotius c) Austin d) Machiavelli

7. Which of the following is not the states function of Modern State

a ) Security and Defence b) Economic Functions
c) Provision of Essential Services d) Religions duties

8. Which flagship programme of Government of Tamil Nadu followed by all other

states in India
a ) The Noon Meal Scheme b) Rain Harvesting
c) Gold for marriage d) Bicycle for school children

9. The idea of Welfare State in the Indian Constituion is contained in

a) Part IV b) part III c) Part I d) Part II

II. Answer the following questions very shortly

10. What is the objective of Political Science as a discipline?

11. Mention a feature of modern state.
12. Name the thinkers associated with Contractual Theory.
13. What are the essential elements of State?
14. Mention the characteristics of sovereignty.
15. What are the functions of Legislature, Executive and Judiciary in a modern
democracy?
16. What are post-colonial states?
17. What are the factors responsible for the emergence of ‘Soft State’.

III. Answer the following questions shortly

17. Compare and contrast the ideas of Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau.
18. What are the factors that contribute to make a State?

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 19. Distinguish State from Society.
20. What are the differences between State and Government?
21. Write a short note on Modernity.
22. What are the functions of ‘Modern State’?
23. Differentiate colonial from postcolonial state.
IV. Answer the following questions in detail
24. Discuss how Society, Market and State are interrelated.
25. Examine the impact on Modernity on the systematic study of State
26. Describe the functions of Modern State.
27. Discuss the idea of Welfare State.
28. Demonstrate the factors responsible Overdeveloped State.

Internet Sources

Videos recommended for further understanding ( Source: You Tube categorized under
‘creative commons’)

1. The origins of the welfare state - Milton Friedman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QZ71-h_pWs
2. State, Nation, Political System https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_vIjr1mxas
Websites recommended for further understanding
1. https://plato.stanford.edu for all the terms in this chapter

Reference books
1. Introduction to Political Science, R. G Gettel, Ginn and Company, New York.

2. Political Theory: An Introduction, Rajesh Bhargava & Ashok Acharya, Pearson,

New Delhi .

3. Political Science: An Introduction, Michael G. Roskin et al, Pearson, New Delhi.

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