NAME:ABIOLA SOLIU OLAKUNLE

MATRIC NO:S115304001

SERIAL NO:009

COLLEGE:COSMAS

DEPARTMENT:POLITICAL SCIENCE

COURSE CODE:PIR 101

Concepts of state
Concepts of State and Government Meaning of State .A state is a community of persons more or less
numerous, permanently occupying a definite portion of territory, having a government of their own to
which the great body of inhabitants render obedience, and enjoying freedom from external
control.The Philippines is a state. Elements of a state 1. People - The mass of the population living
within the state. -people answers the question, who governs whom? no specific number
requirement the state shall neither be too small nor yet one that seems great but has no unity.
(Plato) 2. Territory - demarcated area that rightly belongs to the population. -territory answers the
question, where? terrestrial, fluvial, maritime and aerial should be permanent and large enough to
be self-sufficing 3. Government - Refers to the agency to which the will of the state is formulated,
expressed, and carried out. 4. Sovereignty - May be defined as the supreme power of the state to
command and enforce obedience to its will from the people within its jurisdiction and corollarily to
have freedom from foreign control. -sovereignty a. Internal power of the state to rule within its
territory b. External the freedom of the state to carry out its activities without subjection to or
control by other states.
2. 1. Divine right theory 2. Necessity or force theory 3. Paternalistic theory 4. Social contract theory
State distinguished from nation The state is a political concept while a nation is an ethnic concept.
A state is not subject to external control while a nation may or may not be independent of external
control. A single state may consist of one or more nations or people and conversely, a single nation
may be made up of several states.
Difference between a state and society
State vs Society
A state and a society are both comprised of people. Society and state are interrelated. They
depend upon each other, and the progress of one influences the progress and livelihood of the other.
People belonging to one society may belong to the state, and the majority of the state may comprise
people of the same society. They complement each other and are dependent on each other. The social
customs, traditions, philosophies, and actions of a society directly influences a state and its work
ethics. No matter how complimentary they are, the basic difference between a state and a society is
that in society everything happens due to voluntary actions, and there is a vast limit for flexibility and
acceptability. In a state there are rules and regulations; the actions are mechanical and rigid.
State
A state is an integral part of the society. It can be defined as a particular or specific part or portion of a
certain society which is organized politically. This politically organized portion of society is
responsible for the protection of the society and also responsible for the progress, promotion, and
well-being of the society. A state is, as mentioned before, a political organization unlike a society
which is not a political organization.
The state has authority to punish or award the people of society. The main strength of the state is
derived from the laws that have been made and implemented. The state, unlike society, has the
authority to regulate only those relationships of society which are external.
The state has sovereignty and has the power to coerce. Any kind of disobedience or non-compliance
of rules by anybody in the society can be punished by the state according to its laws.
society
A society is basically a collection or group of people who are brought together and held together by

the internal relationships amongst themselves in order to achieve common goals. The common goals
may be happiness, progress, or any other well-being of all the individuals included in the society. The
strength of the society depends upon its culture and traditions. All kinds of social behavior and the
conduct of all individuals are regulated by common customs.
In a society, obedience has to be dictated and expected of their individuals through the power of
customs, traditions, and moralities instead of through coercion. It has to be, in a way, persuaded and
required by cooperation. Individuals are not punished as per some law when they do not follow
dictums of society.
Summary:
1.Society is a voluntary collection of people; the state is a compulsory organization.
2.Society
does
not
have
territories;
the
state
has
territories.
3.Society is not a political organization; the state is a political organization.
Difference between a nation and state
Nation vs State
The words nation and state are sometimes used as synonyms. Sometimes, state is used as a synonymn
for nation or country, but nation and state have their own repective identities.
A nation can be defined as group of people who are bound together into a single body, through
history, customs, value, language, culture, tradition, art and religion. On the contraray, a state can be
defined as a patch of land with a sovereign government.
A nation can be defined as a politico-cultural entity, which is identified by its unique character and
collective rights. On the other hand, a state can be defined as a politico-judicial entity, which is
identified by its sovereign rights.
When looking at the etymology, nation has been derived from the latin word, natio, which means a
set of people. State is a word that has been derived from the Latins Status, which means status or
condition.
Well, the states together form a nation. However, a state will have a separate political entity within a
nation. Though the states have their own rules, and can also bring in new laws, they must adhere to
the national laws. The states cannot frame laws that is of no interest to the nation.
A nation can be refered to as the holder of soverignity, that has a big role in developing the
fundamental norms of a state. A nation will have a constitution, whereas a state will not have a
separate constitution.
Summary
1. A state is sometimes used as a synonymn for nation or country.
2. States together, form a nation.
3. A nation can be defined as a politico-cultural entity, which is identified by its unique character and collective
rights. On the contrary, a state can be defined as a politico-judicial entity, which is identified by its sovereign
rights.

4. A nation can be refered to as the holder of soverignity.