Author: Haroon Khalil

The State has travelled a long journey from its initial stage, the city-state, to the present form, the nation-state. The change in the form of the State can largely be attributed to the evolution of society and socio-economic development. Its form has reflected changes in the realm of society, economies, cultures, religious views and scientific…

In his Arthásastra, Kautilaya discusses seven elements that constitute a state.17 This is referred to as the Saptang theory according to which the seven elements (prakàtis) include: (i) the king (Svamin), (ii) the ministers, councillors and high officials (Amatyas), (iii) the territory on which people are settled (Janápada), (iv) the fortified towns and cities (Durgá), (v) the treasury or…

The concept of permanence of the state means that once organized, a State should continue to exist. Additions or the partial loss of territory due to factors like secessions, conquest, division, merger, etc. should not affect the juridical personality of the State. For example, after independence from British rule, India became a sovereign State despite…

We argue that international recognition is also one of the essential elements of the state. International recognition refers to the formal recognition of the sovereignty of the State in question by international organizations and other States. In this context, we may recall the process of de-colonization and formal recognition of independent states. The UN Committee…

Constitution Going by the near-universal existence of a constitution for each country as a defining formal document of the rights and duties of the people, the power and limitations of government and as the source of all coercive power that the modern State exercises or threatens to exercise, we would like to argue that a…

Generally, four constituent elements of the State are considered essential—population, territory, government and sovereignty. Understanding the State in terms of these elements makes it possible to differentiate states from stateless societies. Population For organizing political and civic life, the State should have people to act upon. However, a population is only one of the requirements…

A definition of the State, thus, would be in terms of either: (i) the State as a concept having identifiable elements and characteristics (people, territory, government and supreme authority); (ii) forms and stages in evolution (city-state, nation-state, etc.); or (iii) the State as an idea having moral and teleological end. As such, definitions of what…

It may not be inappropriate to look at the State as a concept with its characteristic elements (people, territory, government and supreme authority) and varied forms on the one hand, and as an idea of an ultimate, perfect political and civic association of human life on the other. The idea of the State is different…

The State, as a power separate from society, did not exist from the beginning of human history. It might have emerged either as a specific way of organizing civic and public activities by groups of people with similar allegiance, habitation, leadership and resources at command or as a specific agency to work for the powerful…

The concept of the State has received different treatment by different political thinkers. Some glorify it, some denigrate and reject it, some seek to restrict its role and functions and some make it central to the goal of public welfare. The Organic-Idealist school of thinkers (Plato, Aristotle, W. F. Hegel, T. H. Green, Bluntschli, etc.)…