A state is an organized political community
acting under a government and
united by common set of laws. It uses
absolute power in directing the path of a
society. It also uses complete political
coerciveness, which may come in the form of
armed forces personnel, stricter laws, and
rigid government policies in order to attain
its societal goals and objectives.
Market exchange is the primary
form of economic subsistence of
a state
wherein standardized currencies
are being used to exchange
commodities.
States
differ
in
sovereignty,
governance,
geography,
and
interests. It may be classified as
sovereign if they are not dependent
on, or subject to, any other power or
state. Other states are subject to
external sovereignty where ultimate
sovereignty lies another state.
The concept of the state is different from the
concept of government. A government is the
particular group of people that controls the state
at a given time. In other words, governments are
the means through which the state power us
employed like applying the rule of law. The
concept of the state is also different from the
concept of a nation, which refers to a large
geographical area and the people therein who
perceives themselves as having a common
identity. The state is a political geopolitical
The State intends to be a strong actor in the
performance of the three important political
functions. The state, in full form,
1. maintains control over violence in its
domain
2. allocates resources and rewards at its
discretion, and
3. stands as the major focus of identity for
1. POPULATION
It is the people who make the
state. Population is essential for
the state.
Without population there can be
no State.
2. 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 states includes land, water
and airspace.
3. GOVERNMENT
It is the organization or machinery
or agency of the State which
makes, implements, enforces, and
adjudicates the laws of the state.
4. SOVEREIGNTY
It is the most exclusive elements of State.
Without sovereignty no state can exist. State
has the exclusive title and prerogative to
exercise supreme power over all its people and
and territory. It is the basis which the State
regulates all aspects of the life of the people
living in its territory.
A. AUTHORITARIAN
GOVERNMENT
Authoritarian
governments
differ in who holds power and in
how control they assume over
those who govern. An example
of this type is Monarchy.
MONARCHY
Monarchy is a form of government in which
supreme power is absolutely lodged with an
individual, who is the head of the state, often for
life or until abdication. The person who heads a
monarchy is called a monarch. Some monarchs
hold unlimited political powers while many
constitutional monarchies, such as the United
Kingdom and Thailand. Currently, 44 nations in
the world have monarchs as head of state.
TOTALITARIANIS
Totalitarianism is a political
M
system that strives to
regulate nearly every aspect of public and private life. It
theoretically permits no individual freedom and that
seeks to subordinate all aspects of individual life to the
authority of the state. Modern examples of totalitarian
states include the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin,
Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler, the People’s
Republic of China under Mao Zedong, and North
Korea under the Kim Dynasty.
B. OLIGARCHIC
GOVERNMENT
It is a form of government in which power
effectively rests with a small-elite segment
of society distinguished by royalty, wealth,
family, military, or religious hegemony. An
oligarchy does not have one clear ruler, but
several powerful people who rule. One
common example is theocracy.
THEOCRACY
Theocracy is a government by divine guidance or
by official who are regarded as divinely guided.
Leaders are members of the clergy, and the
state’s legal system is based on religious law.
Contemporary examples of theocracies include
Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the Vatican.
C. DEMOCRATIC
Democracy
is a form of government in which the right to
GOVERNMENT
governs is held by the majority of citizens within a
country or a state. The two principles of democracy are
that all citizens have equal access to power and that all
citizens enjoy universally recognized freedoms and
liberties. People can either become country leaders
through electoral process or elect leaders who represent
the core values and beliefs. There are 99 democratic
nations globally. Examples of democratic nations are
Philippines, Norway, New Zealand, United States of
America, Canada, Columbia, Italy, and South Africa.
1. State provides security against external aggressions and
war. For this purpose, the state maintains an army.
2. State ensures security against internal disturbances
disorders and crimes. For this purpose, the state maintains
police.
3. State legally grants and guarantees the rights of the people.
4. The state issues and regulates currency and coinage.
5. State undertakes steps for the creation of necessary
conditions
for
the
socio-economic-politico-cultural
development of the people.
6. State grants citizenship and protects their interests and
rights.
7. State conducts foreign relations, foreign trade and economic