The State

The State

The State

The purpose of the state

The purposes of the state are multiple. Its basic purpose is to ensure human development and the progress of the society as a whole. It is also to maintain peace and order, and provide security to its citizens. The basic goal stands as being allowing its citizens the highest level of existence. These are some of the goals and objectives of the state that almost each and every school of thought holds in common.

Starting from a very long time back, the Greeks held the purpose behind a state to be “self-sufficiency,” where the progress of the community was to be ensured. Other theorists like Hobbes and Locke considered the state's purpose to be protecting property and life. The idealists such as Herbert Spencer, Adam Smith, and J.S. Mill, consider the state to be one where the citizens can achieve the end of their existence, and their identity and loyalty was to be with the state. The Fascists and Nazis of Italy and Germany identified the state as being an end and the citizens as being the means to that end. For them the purpose of the state was to make the people completely subordinate to the state. Other theorists regard the state as being an “evil” institution and its purposes unnecessary that hinder the progress of the society and the people.

The Utilitarian view regards the state as being responsible for ensuring the individual welfare, while the general welfare theory advocates the purpose of the state as being ensuring the welfare of its citizens, bridging the collective interests of the citizens, and promoting the civilization. The socialist on the other hand, depict the purpose of the state as maximizing the advancement of welfare for all. They hold the purposes of the state as being positive, providing service, controlling economic competition, and doing good for the individuals, while also deciding what is best for him as an individual always may not chose what is best for him (Dubreuil, 2010, pp 189).

'National principle' is a dangerous idea

'National principle' may both prove to be a good idea as well as a dangerous one. Sentiments of national principles have in the past been the result of various conflicts and have erupted in wars. Some of these wars have lasted for decades and resulted in huge loss of life. Taking one of the latest examples of the 20th century, the World War II was the result of national sentiments running high. Also the adoption of national principles by some countries contributed towards the war. In Germany for example, the national principles were drawn on the basis of the supposed superiority of the Aryan race over others. This notion led to the high ambitions of the German leaders and military, and resulted in the outbreak of World War II.

These were the negative examples. However, having national principles can be conducive to the overall development and progress of the country. If national principles are to contain elements of ...