09/08/11 State Different ideas of State History Emerged from medieval Europe; two central pillars were the

llars were the Roman Catholic Church and feudalism Proliferation of monarchies, no place for sovereign states War emerged as the single most powerful force to change the old order; the invention of gunpowder was significant. Frontiers were changed and bureaucracies developed to take care of these large armies; Relations were formally established between these territorial units This undermined the feudal arrangements in place The reformation undermined the religious foundations. Martin Luther king led others in challenging corruption and privileges of the Church, war developed between Catholics and Protestants Peace of Westphalia ended the war; it permitted rulers to regulate the public exercise of religion, making secular authority superior to religious edict Collection of institutions Territorial unit Philosophical idea An instrument of coercion, oppression Dominant principle of political organization

Philosophical foundation French philosopher Jean Bodin argued that within a society a single authority should possess the unrivalled and undivided authority to make laws. This sovereign according to Bodin derived his authority from God. Thinkers such as John Locke, Thomas Hobbes and Jean-Jacques Rosseau were 17th century social-contract theorist. Argued that the state had arisen out of a voluntary agreement, or social contract, made by individuals who recognized that only through the establishment of a sovereign power they could be safeguarded from insecurity, disorder and brutality of the state of nature (the condition of humankind in the absence of government) This was where according to Hobbes that life was solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short a situation of eternal conflict of all against all.

For Rosseau, the state of nature represented humanity before its fall from grace, without all the corruptions that governments have introduced. He famously said man is born free and yet everywhere he is in chains For Locke where there is no law there is no freedom, his views were located between Hobbes and Rosseau. Hobbes talked about stability and order only through the establishment of an absolute and unlimited state (leviathan) with power that could neither be challenged nor questioned. The choice was between abolitionism and anarchy. Locke developed a more liberal view which focused on the defense of a set of natural or God=Given individual rights, namely life, liberty and property He argued for limited government, the states role is mainly to protect property and commerce and promote economic growth Rosseau saw governments as the source of power and inequality which in turn causes human alienation and corruption.

Marxs view of the state State

According to International Law, a state exists when it has: Territory Population Government

State cannot be understood separately from the economic structure of society State is an instrument of class rule, of the bourgeoisie overover the proletariat It emerges out of, and in a sense, reflects, the class system Part of a superstructure, that is conditioned by the economic base

Heywood apolitical association that establishes sovereign jurisdiction witin defined territorial borders, and exercises authority through a ste of permanent institutions.

Characteristics of State State is sovereign exercises absolute and unrestricted power, it stands above all other associates or groups in society. For Hobbes, a leviathan State institutions are recognizably public, in contrast to private institutions responsible for making collective decisions in contrast to private bodies that exist to satisfy individual interest. An exercise in legitimation decisions usually accepted as binding on the members of society, because they are made in the public interest. An instrument of domination state authority is backed up by coercion; laws are made to be obeed. For Max Weber, a monopoly on legitimate violence, the practical expression of state sovereignty.

Territorial association geographically defined, ecompasses all within the borders whether citizens or non-citizens.

What is Government? Heywood the mechanism through which ordered rule is maintained; the machinery for making and enforcing collective decision in society and elsewhere. Its two features include: 1) the abiliy to make collective decisions and 2) Capacity to enforced them. The functions of Government are to : Make Law, Implement Law Interpret Law. Community and nation building create a community in which citizens can feel safe and comfortable Security and order externally and internally Protecting rights economic, political and social rights Promoting economic efficiency and growth Social justice

Democracy Democracy substitutes election by the incompetent many for appointment by the corrupt few. Different meanings A system of rule by the poor and disadvantaged A form of government in which the people rule themselves directly and continuously A society based on equal opportunity and individual merit, rather than hierarchy and privilege. A system of welfare and redistribution aimed at narrowing social inequalities A system of decision-making based on the principle of majority rule A system of rules that secures the rights and interest of minorities by placing checks upon the power of the majority.

What is it? Carl Stone sees democracy as a process which seeks t distribute power from centres of power concentration to the majority of citizens in a political system Abraham Lincolns Gettysburg address (1864).. government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Democracy refers to: Free and fair elections at regular intervals in the context of guaranteed civil and political rights. Responsible government (accountability of executive rights and elected representatives)

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Political inclusion (universal suffrage)

The critical question is not the conduct of free elections, though this is nevertheless important (Lamon Wilson) but acceptance of election results y the former government, military, major interest groups and the electorate.

What is it Professor Arthur Lewis implies that the word has two meanings: its primary one is that all who are affected by a decision should have a chance to participate in making that decision either directly or through chosen representatives. The secondary meaning is that the majority shall prevail. Professor John Stewart Mill questioned the usefulness of majoritarian democracy arguing that in dividing societies, majority can lead to what he calls the tyranny or dictatorship of the majority. Aubrey Norton believes that democracy is a system which promotes freedom and equality and the people are the real wielders of power.

Origin In ancient Greece democracy was viewed in negative terms. Persons saw democracy as a system of rules by the masses at the expense of the wisdom and property Derived from the Greek word kratos, meaning power or rule, and demos, referring to the people.

Forms of Democracy Original was direct democracy in which the people directly exercised power. However, as society developed and population increased, the practice of direct democracy became increasingly challenging (mass meetings, referendums) Still practice to a far degree in Swtizerland. That give way to representative indirect democracy, which means a system in which the people elect people to represent them at intervals (voting).

Direct Democracy Merits Heightens control by citizens of their lives Creates a better informed and more politically sophisticated citizenry Enables the public to express their views and interests without resorting to politicians Ensures rule of legitimate in the sense that people are more likely to accept rules they made themselves.

Representative Democracy Merits

Offers a practicable form of democracy It relives ordinary citizens of the burden of decision making, thus making possible a division of labour in politics Allows government to be placed in the hands of those with better education, expert knowledge and greater experience. Maintains stability by distancing ordinary citizens from politics, thereby encouraging them to accept compromise.

What constitutes Democracy? Procedural (how decisions are made) Who should participate in decision making How much should each participants vote count How many votes are needed to reach a decision. Substantive (what govt and people do) focuses on substance of govt policies. Certain principles must be embodied in these policies Guarantee civil liberties (freedom of relition etc) Perhaps even social (health care etc.) and economic rights (private property)

Nevertheless: it does not provide clear, precise criteria that allow us to determine whether a govt is democratic or not.