It is not so simple to answer the question of what a state is. The definition (short or detailed) of this concept has many options. Scientists in their works have completely different approaches to explaining this category, which plays one of the most important roles in public life.
In general, a brief definition of the concept of the state consists in organizing a society that has common interests, has a clearly defined territory, a management system, and full sovereignty.
Where is the concept of "state" used?
“State” as a term requiring ascertainment is used in several contexts. Typically, these are:
- the sphere of legal relations, where the state often acts as their independent object in the person of state bodies;
- the sphere of political relations, in which the state is also a fundamental element that determines the vector of development of society at both the internal and external levels;
- the sphere of social relations, in which the state is also given a number of functions for the social protection of the population.
Why is there no single definition of a state?
One way or another, what is a state (a short definition cannot contain the whole essence of this concept), even a science cannot give a definite answer.
There is no single, universally recognized explanation of the concept of "state". International law is also powerless in this matter.
The UN is not relevant to the wording proposed below, since only another state can recognize a particular state or its governing bodies. The UN is not a power. This is an international organization, one of the most influential and largest world communities, which does not have an appropriate package of powers to determine at the legal level what a state is. A brief concept that defines this category as the main political organization of a society that exercises control, management, protection of economic and social structures over it, in general, gives an idea that it is the state in the "state-society" chain that is the leading link. Such a definition is proposed in the explanatory dictionary of Shvedov and Ozhegova.
Definitions of the concept of the state by different authors
To understand which brief definition corresponds to the concept of the state, it is necessary to turn to additional literary sources. For example, the state is a special trained law enforcement force. E. Gellner imagines the state as a series of institutions whose sole purpose is to prevent discord. Separated from the public mass of the population, the courts and the police are the very state.
As an example of the fact that the term has many meanings, one can recall one statement of L. Grinin about what a state is. The definition is brief, or rather its meaning is as follows: the state is a static unit of political relations, represented in the power and administration separated from the people, which claims only to supreme governance. Moreover, according to the author, the population is controlled independently of his desires and will, since there will always be forces in the state to implement coercion.
It is impossible to miss the truly “winged” statements of Lenin V.I. - Leader of the Soviet people at the beginning of the twentieth century. Its brief definition corresponds to the concept of the state, if we consider the latter from a more aggressive side. He believed that the state is a machine designed to oppress the low class, helping the upper class to keep the rest of the population in obedience. Often, Lenin called the state an apparatus of violence.
Country and state: is there a difference?
Examples of interpretations of this concept, quite obviously, cannot lead to a single general definition. Perhaps, having understood some aspects of the origin of the state, its varieties and features, it will be possible to find the very answer to the question.
Often, “state” and “country” appear as identically equal terms. Is it correct? Is there any difference, and does it matter? Turning to the above formulations, we can emphasize the most basic and call what a state is. The short definition confirms that this is a political system of power established in a particular populated area. The country, however, appears rather as a geographical, cultural, historical, ethnographic concept.
First states
Attention should be paid to where management came from, and what a state is. A brief definition of the history of the development of society is almost impossible to find. Scientists here also disagree, so no one can name the single reasons for the emergence of such a mechanism as the state. Of course, the existence of several theories confirms the enormous work done by historians and legal scholars, but not one version has yet been awarded the status of “true”.
Unambiguously and indisputably we can only say where the first states appeared. Iraq, Egypt, China, India - modern countries belonging to the period of the Ancient East, have the longest history of existence. Among the theories of the origin of these states, the leading positions are occupied by:
- Patriarchal theory;
- Theological theory ;
- Theory of social contract ;
- Theory of violence ;
- Marxist theory.
The concept of the rule of law
However, bringing the essence of each of them together, an approximate definition of the state will be obtained, according to which it can be considered a special type of political organization that controls all social processes by means of coercion in the designated territory. It is autonomous in its own functioning, and administers in a centralized manner using established legal norms or a single ideology.
In jurisprudence it is often possible to meet the concept of “rule of law”. A brief definition of such a term will be possible to formulate only after the disclosure of the internal content of the category.
Features of the rule of law
In the case when the sovereign administration and all activities are regulated by legal norms, legal principles, the state can be called legal. In fact, it is precisely the conformity and unquestioning observance of the principles of legality and the rule of law that are the main features of the rule of law.
It is possible to consider the same concept not only from the side of state coercion or compliance with certain legal norms only to the subordinate side. The concept of a “rule of law” can also be interpreted as a way of influencing legitimate authorities, aimed at observing the latter of the same legal norms that are binding on the rest of the population.
In addition, in a state of law, the rights and freedoms of man and citizen are above all and are a priority value in all areas of public relations.
Federal state: specifics
Particularly relevant is the consideration of such a concept as a federal state. A brief definition of this conceptual unit will help to accurately identify the main features and characteristics of such a public entity that distinguishes it from similar systems.
In two words, we can say that this is a rather complicated political and administrative formation, consisting of separate territorial entities. Unlike a unitary state, where regions have sufficient powers and sometimes decentralized power, in the case of federations, administrative-territorial units are endowed with the broadest competence and autonomy in almost all matters of the political, economic and social life of society.
Features of the federal state
The characteristic features of a federal state are:
- territorial division of the federation into separate administrative units;
- the right to adopt normative legal acts, their own constitution belongs to each federal subject;
- each administrative-territorial unit of the federation has its own state bodies;
- the citizenship of the permanent residents of the federation may be dual: a union-wide and a specific federal subject;
- The parliament of a federal state is basically bicameral.
Russia is a secular state. The place of the church in society
The Constitution of Russia states that our state is secular. This means that the church is separated from sovereign affairs, and not one of the world's religions is established by the authorities as the main or compulsory. Moreover, some aspects of religion and the legal status of churches in the territory of the modern Russian state are regulated by relevant legislation.
Today, using the example of Russia, we can examine in more detail what a secular state is. A brief definition states that in the territory of the country there cannot be any official religion approved by state bodies, obligatory or preferred. However, it is worth noting that over the past years the church has significantly strengthened its position in the state. The revived significance and significant role of religion in the life of the country is manifested in many ways. This is the active construction and reconstruction of temples, and the education of the population through newspapers, radio waves and Internet resources. The presence of His Holiness Patriarch of All Russia at important events and public holidays next to state leaders is already a common occurrence.
Among the population, one can also notice the activity of visiting churches and the opening of specialized religious secondary schools.