What is the state? Definition is short, signs and concept

It is not so simple to give an answer to the question of what a state is. The definition (short or expanded) of this concept has many options. Scientists in their writings are absolutely differently approaching the explanation of this category, which plays one of the most important roles in public life.

In general, a brief definition of the concept of the state is to organize a society that has common generalized interests, necessarily possessing a specifically designated territory, management system and full sovereignty.

Where is the concept of "state" used?

"State" as a term that requires a statement, is used in several contexts. Typically, this is:

• The sphere of legal relations, where the state often acts as an independent object in the person of state bodies;
• The sphere of political relations in which the state is also a fundamental element determining the vector of the development of society both at the internal and external levels;
• The sphere of social relations, in which the state is also given a number of functions on social protection of the population.

Why there is no single definition of the state?

Anyway, what is a state (the definition of a short one can not contain the whole essence of this concept), an unambiguous answer can not even be given by science.
There is no single, recognized in all scientific branches of the explanation of the concept of "state". International law is also powerless in this matter.

The UN has nothing to do with the formulations proposed below, since only a different state can recognize a state or its governing bodies. The UN is not a power. It is an international organization, one of the most influential and largest world communities, without the 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 the society, exercising control over it, managing and protecting economic and social structures, gives an idea in general terms that it is the state in the chain "state-society" that is the leading link. Such a definition is proposed in the explanatory dictionary of Shvedova and Ozhegova.

Definitions of the concept of the state by different authors

To understand what a short definition corresponds to the notion of the state, it is necessary to turn to additional literary sources. For example, the state is a special prepared force for maintaining law and order. E. Gellner imagines the state as a series of institutions whose sole purpose is to prevent discord. Separated from the public masses of the courts, police organs and are the same state.

As an example of the fact that the term has many meanings, one can recall one statement by L. Grinin about what a state is. The definition is short, 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 supreme control. Moreover, according to the author, population management occurs regardless of his desires and will, since in the state there will always be forces to implement coercion.

It is impossible to miss and truly "winged" statements of Lenin VI. - the leader of the Soviet people in the early 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 a state of obedience. Often Lenin called the state the apparatus of violence.

Country and state: is there a difference?

Examples of interpretations of this concept, obviously, can not 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.

Quite often, the "state" and "country" appear as identically equal terms. Is it correct? Is there any difference, and does it matter? Turning to the above formulations, it is possible to emphasize the most basic and to name what is the state. The definition of short confirms that this is a political system of government established in a particular populated territory. The country is, rather, a geographical, cultural, historical, ethnographic concept.

The first states

It is necessary to pay attention to the question of where the government came from, and what is the state. A brief definition of the history of the development of society is almost impossible to find. Scientists here also disagree, therefore no one can call the single reasons for the emergence of such a mechanism as the state. Of course, the existence of several theories confirms the huge work done by historians and jurists, but not one of the versions to award the status of "true" has so far failed.

Unequivocally and indisputably we can say only about where the first states appeared. Iraq, Egypt, China, India - modern countries related 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:

• The patriarchal theory;
• Theological theory ;
• The theory of social contract ;
• Theory of violence ;
• Marxist theory.

Concept of the rule of law

However, reducing the essence of each of them together, we will get an approximate definition of the state, according to which it can be considered a special type of political organization that controls all social processes through coercion on the designated territory. It is autonomous in its own functioning, and management exercises centrally through established legal norms or a single ideology.

In jurisprudence, one often encounters the notion of a "rule of law". A brief definition of such a term is 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 state administration and all activities are regulated by legal norms, legal principles, the state can be called legal. In fact, it is compliance and unquestioning respect for the principles of legality and the rule of law - these are the main features of the rule of law.

Consider this same concept can be and not only from the state compulsion or compliance with certain legal norms only to the subordinate side. The notion of a "rule of law" can also be interpreted as a way of influencing legitimate power aimed at observing the latter of the same legal norms that are mandatory for strict implementation by the rest of the population.

Moreover, in the rule of law the rights and freedoms of man and citizen stand above all and are a priority value of all spheres of public legal relations.

Federated State: Specificity

Particularly relevant is the consideration of such a concept as a federal state. A brief definition of this conceptual unit will help to pinpoint the main features and attributes of such a state formation that distinguishes it from similar systems.

Two words can be said that this is a rather complex political-administrative formation, consisting of separate territorial entities. Unlike a unitary state, where the regions have sufficient powers and sometimes decentralized power, in the case of federations, administrative and territorial units are endowed with the widest competence and autonomy in almost all issues of the political, economic and social life of society.

Features of a 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, own constitution belongs to every federal subject;
• Each administrative-territorial unit of the federation has its own state bodies;
• Citizenship of permanent residents of the federation can be double: the all-Union and specific federal subject;
• The parliament of a federal state is basically bicameral.

Russia is a secular state. The place of the church in the life of society

The Constitution of Russia says that our state is secular. This means that the church is separated from the affairs of the state, and none of the world's religions is established by the authorities as primary or compulsorily compulsory. However, certain aspects of religion and the legal status of churches in the territory of the modern Russian state are regulated by the relevant legislation.

Today, with the example of Russia, it is possible to consider in more detail what a secular state is. A short definition says that there can not be any official, approved by the state organs of religion on the territory of the country, mandatory or preferable. However, it is worth noting that over the past few 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 erection and reconstruction of churches, and educating the public through newspapers, radio waves and Internet resources. The presence of His Holiness Patriarch of All Russia at important events and state holidays near the leaders of the state is already a familiar phenomenon.

Among the population, you can also notice the activity of visiting churches, the opening of specialized religious general schools.