Distinction Between Society, Nation, State, and Government

Society, Nation, State, and Government… similar kind of words, creates confusion many times. Kailasha Foundation tries to remove that confusion. Read this article from one of the authors of our team and after studying this article, you will be able to

1. Know the meaning of society, government and other association;
2. Distinguish between state and society;
3. Distinguish between state and other associations;
4. Distinguish between state and government;
5. Distinguish between state and nation.        

STATE AND SOCIETY

The term ‘state’ is central to the study of political science. But it is wrongly used as a synonym for the nation, government etc. The term ‘State’ is also used as State management, State aid and so on. In political science, we use the term state differently. It has a more specific meaning.

Some of the definitions of the concept of the state are as follows:

1. “The State is the politically organized region of a definite territory.”
2. A state is “a community of persons, more or less numerous, permanently occupying a definite portion of territory, independent, or nearly so, of external control, and possessing an organized government to which the great body of inhabitants render habitual obedience.”
3. A State “is a group of people organized by law within a definite territory.” The term ‘society’ is a group of people involved in a persistent social interaction, or a large social grouping sharing the same geographical or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant culture expectations.”

Societies are characterized by patterns of relationships between individuals who share a distinctive culture and institutions.

DISTINCTION BETWEEN STATE AND SOCIETY

The distinction between the state and the society can be explained as under:-

1. The state is a political organization or one can say it is politically organized. Society, on the other hand, is a social organization and has within it, all type of association. Society is both broader as well as narrower than the state. It is broader when it is used describe the whole community of mankind; it is narrower when it is used to describe a small group of a village.
2. In term of origin, society is prior to the state. Society may be said to have been born the day the human life must have begun. But the state did not begin with the society; it must have started at a large stage of social development. Human beings are social beings first and then political beings.
3. Being prior to the state, society is clearly a natural and therefore, an instinctive institution. The state, on the other hand, is artificial, a created institution; it was made when it was needed.
4. The state exists for the society in the same way as a means to its end. The state is, therefore, a means and the society is an end. It is always the means that exists for the end; the end never exists for the means.
5. The state to have a definite territory. A territorial organization in so far as it stays on the definite portion of territory. Society does have a territory but its territory is not permanent; its place of operation may extend or may get limited.
6. The state has general rules of conduct called the laws; the society, too, has general rules of conduct but they are called rituals, norms and the like. Laws of the state are written, definite and clear while those of the society are unwritten, indefinite and vague.

In spite of these distinctions, Society, and State are closely interrelated and inter-dependent. Social conduct and the structure of the society must conform to the laws of the state. The state, on the other hand, must be responsive to the well-being of the society.

STATE AND OTHER ASSOCIATION

An association is an organized group of people which seeks to achieve some specific objectives through joint efforts. An association has, therefore, three features:-

1. Organization of the people
2. Some common/specific objectives
3. Joint efforts.

So one can think of a family as an association. Its people are organized through ties of blood: all the member of the family work together to attain objects common to the family.

Association makes up the society. The state is also an association which exists, along with other associations in the society. But the state as an association is different from other associations.

These differences can be explained as under:

1. All the associations, including even the state, consist of people. But while the membership of the state is compulsory, that of the other association is voluntary. A person has to be a member of a state; no person, as he/she become an adult, can be a member of two states. His/her membership of the state is a matter of compulsion.
2. A person can be a member of one state at one time, but a person can be a member of numerous association at the same time.
3. All association functions on the territory. But while for a state as an association, the territory has to be definite, the other association do not have permanent territory.
4. All association, including the state, exist to perform and achieve certain ends. While for the state, the purpose is always general for the other associations, the purpose is usually specific, particular.
5. The violation of the state’s law is accompanied by punishment like imprisonment. No other association has the power to punish its members physically.

The relationship between the State and the other association is signified in many aspects. The other association helps the state reduce its burden; they perform functions even greater than those of the state; some of them have been in existence much before the state. The state need not take away their powers; it need not dominate them. Important as these other associations are in their internal domains and in their functions, they need not override the authority of the state, and should never challenge the state’s sovereignty. The state, on the other hand, needs to ensure the other associations and their autonomy.

STATE AND GOVERNMENT

The government, as we know, is one element of the state. It is the agency through which laws are made, enforced and

those who violate laws, are punished. It consist of all the persons, institutions and agencies through which the will of the state is expressed and carried out. Since a state speaks through the government, it is essential to differentiate between the two.

1. The state has authority inherent in itself whereas the government has no inherent powers. The government gets its structure, authority and power from the Constitution of the state. THE CONSTITUTION IS A COLLECTION OF RULES AND THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS, ACCORDING TO WHICH THE GOVERNMENT OF A STATE IS ORGANISED.
2. The state is a large entity which includes all the citizens while the government is, relatively a smaller unit that includes only those who are employed to perform its functions. We are all citizens of the state, but we are all not functionaries of the government.
3. The idea of state is quite abstract. The government is the concretization of the idea of the state. We see the government, not the state.
4. The state is a near permanent institution; it is so because it does not die unless it is attacked and made a part of the other state. The government is temporary; it is so because it may change to put it the other way, the state may be the same everywhere whereas, the government may vary from one state to another. India, the United State, France etc. are all states. 

In India and U.K.there is a parliamentary government.In USA there is presidential government.

PARLIMENTARY GOVERNMENT IS A SYSTEM WHERE THE LEGISLATIVE ORGAN OF THE GOVERNMENT IS CLOSELY RELATED TO ITS EXECUTIVE ORGAN; THE CABINET IS TAKEN FROM THE LEGISLATURE AND IS RESPONSIBLE TO IT, ESPECIALLY TO THE LOWER HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE.

PRESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT IS A SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WHERE THE LEGISLATIVE ORGAN OF THE GOVERNMENT IS INDEPENDENT OF THE EXECUTIVE ORGAN; THE EXECUTIVE EXISTS SEPARATELY FROM THE LEGISLATIVE AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE TO IT.

1. The sovereign powers lie within the state; it is the state which is sovereign. The government is only an exercise power.
2. The state’s territory is always definite. It remains unchanged. The government’s territory is never permanent.
   

   STATE AND NATION

NATION connotes the concept of people who are conscious of their historical and cultural background and who wish to perpetuate this background politically, i.e., within the framework of a state.

The state, as we know, is a people organized for law within a definite territory; it is always sovereign-supreme internally and independent externally. The nation is a group of people psychologically bound together while sharing common joys and sorrows.

The distinction between state and nation can be explained as under:

1. Nation and State are distinct entities. A nation can not be a state; India was not a state before August,1947. A state may not always be a nation.
2. The state is a state because of its sovereignty. The nation is not a state if it is not sovereign. Sovereignty is the chief characteristic of a state whereas it is not a feature of the nation. A nation becomes a nation-state when the nation attains statehood.
3. The state is political concept while the nation is a cultural, and a psychological body.
4. Laws bind the people together in a state; sentiments and emotions bind the people in a nation. The unity of the state is always external whereas the unity of the nation is eternal. In the case of state, unity is imposed through laws.
5. There is an element of force connected with the state. The state’s law are binding. There is a coercion exercised by the state if its authority is defied.
6. The elements of the state are defined; population, fixed territory, government and sovereignty. The elements of a nation are not defined.

 Kailasha Foundation – Bringing Solutions To You

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn.

Source – NCERT Textbooks