Sanchez, Reigne Lesly B.

Gender and Society

T/TH 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
SOCIAL INTITUTIONS: STATE

State
The word state and its cognates in other European language (Stato
in Italian, état in French, Staat in German) ultimately derived from the
Latin status, meaning “condition” or “status”. With the revival of the
Roman law in the 14th century in Europe, this Latin term was used to
refer to legal standing of person (such as the various “estates of the
realm”- noble, common, and clerical), and in particular the special status
of the king. (Hay, 2001) For Hegel, the state is the social substance that
has arrived at self-consciousness. It is rational of itself and for itself. For
Max Weber, it is a structurally specific and historically unique
organization of men over men.
Thus, a state is a political association with effective dominion over
a geographic area. It is that organization that has a “monopoly on the
legitimate use of physical force within a given territory”, which may
include the armed forces, civil service or state bureaucracy, courts, and
police. It is a set of institution that possess the authority to make the
rules that govern the people in one or more societies, having internal and
external sovereignty over a definite territory.
The Origin of state therefore, has its roots in man’s social being. It
is the duty of the state to preserve and defend the rights and dignity of
man and promote the common good of the people .However, the state
cannot be an end in itself, but as a means to a greater end. The state
indeed, fundamentally emerged in the family to ensure security and well-
being of its member. Its very existence is a self-conscious effort by people
trying to maintain stability and order in society. Man, being rational and
social in nature tends to form and create society for community life with
his fellowmen in order to work cooperatively for their common welfare.
The state is established to minister man’s temporal needs and well being
to be happy. Thus the supreme end of the state, according to Plato, is to
bring about unity and harmony among men.
 1. State, Nation and Country

These three social terms are related to each and sometimes

they are used analogously. Let us discriminate them from each
other:

a) Nation
The English word “nation” is derived from the Latin Term nātíō
(stem nātiōn-), meaning:
 The action of being born; birth; or
 The Goddess personifying birth; or
 A breed, stock, kind species race: or
 A tribe, or (rhetorically, any) set of people (contemptuous); or
 A nation or people.

Nation pertains, to a set of people with common descent, common

language, common culture, and common religion

b) Country
A country is a political division of a geographical entity, a sovereign
territory, most commonly associated with the notion of state or nation
and government.
 State refers to set of governing institutions that has
sovereignty over a definite territory.
 Country denotes a geographical area
 Nation denotes a people who are believed to or deemed to
share common customs, origins, and history.
De Guzman, Cathrine Kaye D.
Gender and Society
T/TH 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
SOCIAL INTITUTIONS: STATE

2. Theoretical Origins of the State

a) Divine Theory- is the oldest theory which has almost accepted

universally in ancient and medieval Era. This posits the idea that
the state is of divine origin and God vested political power to
certain people in the society of govern. The power of the state is
derived from that of God’s. The rulers then are considered to be the
agent of God. Their mandate comes from God.

b) Contract Theory- was assumed that there was time where man
lived in the state of nature free from political constraint but only
governed by their natural reason. However, man’s social moved
him into a social agreement to form a civil society. Out of this
inclination a state was put by virtue of political contract. This
Political Contract implied that the people will render obedience to
the government while the government shall rule justly. To do
otherwise would mean the overthrowing of the government.

c) Natural Theory- asserts that the existence of society was based

upon the natural tendencies of man to live in an organized society.
The state is the product of man’s desire to bind themselves in a
political obligation inherent in them.

d) Force Theory- asserts that the state exist through sheer force that
there was a prevalent domination of tribe against the other; a
kingdom conquering other kingdoms; an empire destroying other
empires; clashing against each other for supremacy. From this
observation, force becomes an essential element in the state. The
state requires force to preserve unity against disruptive element
from inside and outside of the society. Thus command and
obedience in society imply the existence of force.
 3. Elements of state

The four elements of the state are: people, territory, government,

and sovereignty.

a) The People are the essential element of state. There can be

no state without people. Man as a member of society
characterized the people of state. The number of People does
not affect the existence of the state. It is only when the
government becomes incapable of operating and keeping its
duties and obligation that the state ceases to exist.

b) Territory constitutes all the land and water within its

external boundaries. Thus the state must have a full control
of its territory.

c) Government is the aggregate of authorities that rule society

and must be obeyed by its people.

d) Sovereignty is the supreme and independent power of the

state to manage its internal affairs and to be freed from
external control.

4. Function of state
a) To depend man’s basic needs and security
b) To support his quest for natural well being
c) To see the administration of justice on fair basis for all
d) To help in the education and cultural life of the people
e) To defend and advance freedom of the citizens.