The State of the STATEGary G. Ador Dionisio Assistant Professor
SMS Social Science Area
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The State of the StateI. Introduction:
The State of the State Based on the movie The City of God, what
are the prominent features of the STATE? Should the state always
above to the interest of the People? What is the difference between
the state and government? What are the reasons why there are
confusion on these two concepts? What are the different theories in
explaining the use of state power? Has the state lost its relevance
at this juncture?
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The State of the StateII. What is state: Defining State The
state is a political association that establishes sovereign
jurisdiction within defined territorial borders, and exercise
authority through a set of permanent institutions (Heywood 2002:87)
The state is the locus of social power (Poggi 2002:35) 3 different
ways in understanding the state idealist approach functionalist
approach organizational approach3
The State of the State5 Key features of the state The state is
sovereign The state institutions are recognizably public The state
is an exercise of legitimation The state is an instrument of
domination The state is a territorial association III. The
Principal differences between government and the state are the
following The state is more extensive than govt. Government is part
of the state The state is a continuing, even permanent entirety.
Government is temporary4
The State of the StateGovernment is the means through which the
authority of the state is brought into operation The state
exercises impersonal authority The state in theory represents the
permanent interest of the society. Government represents partisan
interest IV. Rival Theories of the State A. Pluralist State The
state is like a wind vane, it depends in whatever direction that
public at large dictates Proponents: John Locke, Jeremy Bentham
(classical) Robert Dahl, Charles Lindblom (modern)5
The State of the Stateb. The Capitalist State The state is the
instrument of the capitalist class in order to maintain its hold in
our society The executive of the modern state is but a committee
for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie (Communist
Manifesto 1848:82) The state is instrument of class oppression The
state is relative autonomy from the class system Proponents: Karl
Marx, Friedrich Engels, Lenin (classical) Ralph Miliband, Paul
Sweezy, Nicos Poulantzas (modern)6
The State of the StateC. The Leviathan State The image of the
state as a leviathan (in effect a self serving monster intent for
expansion and aggrandizement) State intervention should be limited
Emphasizing the role of individual and market Proponents: Thomas
Hobbes, Adam Smith (classical) Friedrich Hayek, Milton Friedman
(modern)7
The State of the StateD. The Patriarchal State The issue of
gender is an important issue, for it dictates who controls the
state Male power is a central political issue Little role of women
in our society Powerlessness of women in the state Proponent: Marry
Wollstonecrat (classical) Catherine Mckinnon (modern)8
The State of the StateV. The Role of the State a. Minimal states
Ensures that individuals enjoy the widest possible realm of freedom
Negative view of the state The administrative, judicial and police
functions Let the market dictates the needs of the people e.g. USA,
UK, etc9
The State of the StateB. Developmental States A developmental
state is one that intervenes in economic life with the specific
purpose of promoting industrial growth and economic development
Govt + Market = Developmental state Minimal presence of human
rights and freedom e.g. Japan, Germany, etc10
The State of the StateC. Social Democratic statesSocial
democratic state does not only promote industrial growth and
economic development it brings issues such as social justice,
freedom, human rights and equality Positive view of the state
Manage or regulate capitalism with strong social protection e.g.
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, etc
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The State of the StateD. Collectivized States Collectivized
states bring the entirety of economic life under state control Plan
and Command Economy State collectivization or property of the state
e.g. USSR (old), Poland and Hungary (old), Cuba12
The State of the StateE. Totalitarian statesState controls all
aspects of human life, economic, political, socio-cultural, etc.
The state is everything All for the state e.g. Cambodia (Pol Pot),
Russia (Stalin), China (Mao Tse Tung)13
The State of the StateVI. Conclusion Bringing the state back
in
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