Civic and Community
Engagement
Lecture-4
State, Government and Social Society
State:
Political organization of Society, or the body politic or more
narrowly , the institutions of government.
State, Government and Social Society
The state is a form of human associations distinguished from other social
groups by the following:
Its purpose, the establishment of order and security;
Its methods, the laws and their enforcement;
Its territory, the area of jurisdiction or geographic boundaries; and finally
by
Its sovereignty.
State, Government and Social Society
The state consists, most broadly, of the agreement of:
the individuals on the means whereby the disputes are
settled in the form of laws.
State, Government and Social Society
In such countries such as the United States, Australia,
Nigeria, Mexico, and Brazil, the term (State) also refers to
Political Units that are not sovereign but subject to the
authority of the larger state, or federal union.
State, Government and Social Society
Advanced Liberal Democracies are currently witnessing a
bewildering variety of developments in regimes of control.
These range from :
Demands for execution or
Preventive detention of implacable dangerous or risky
individuals.
State, Government and Social Society
The democratic system every where brought with it the
following:
► Growing prosperity,
► The emancipation of women,
► Recognition of equal rights of law abiding individuals and
social groups (whatever their origin or beliefs) and
► A professed commitment to international cooperation.
State, Government and Social Society
In the second half of the twentieth century, no western
democracy made war against any other.
The Turbulent Processes of Open Debate and Decisions
produced an economic order that was quite Productive.
This gave hope to Western Democracies that the world’s
largest democracy, India was able to overcome intractable
problems.
State, Government and Social Society
Western democracy also faces other problems that may
prove too big for it to solve.
The great experiment of European Imperialism has long since
collapsed, but its legacy of:
Corruption,
War, and
Poverty, especially in Africa, seemed even more challenging
at the beginning of the 21st century than it did 50 years
previously.
State, Government and Social Society
European Imperialism refers to the period from the 15th to
the early 20th centuries during which European power
expanded their political, economic, and military influence
across vast regions of the world. Motivated by the search for
new markers, raw materials, and strategic advantages,
European nations colonized in the Africa, Asia, and the
Americas.
State, Government and Social Society
This expansion was often justified by a belief in the
superiority of European culture and institutions, manifesting
in ideologies such as the “civilizing mission”
State, Government and Social Society
In many countries,
Nationalism,
Nativism, and
Xenophobia still distorts voters judgment in matters of
foreign policy .
Class conflicts have been muted rather than resolved.
Demagogues(malevolent) abound as much as they did in
ancient Athens.
State, Government and Social Society
The incompatible claims of the city-states ruined
ancient Greece, and modern civilization may yet be
imperiled(endangered) by the rival claims of the
nation-states. It gave rise to seeking new forms of
government
State, Government and Social Society
State is part of Society
Society is sum total of various organized and unorganized
organizations and out of these state is one organized
organization.
Today, the entire world is a society because the people living
in different parts of the world are linked with one another
for the fulfilment of certain common purposes and they do
many activities jointly.
State, Government and Social Society
State has coercive power, Society has persuasive.
Power State is a political system and ‘ legitimate coercive
power’ is one of the essential characteristics.
State, Government and Social Society
It means that the state has legitimate coercive power to get
its will enforced and anybody who violates the orders of the
state gets punishment.
State, Government and Social Society
The Idea that the state has legitimate coercive power is
central to political philosophy, particularly in the theory of
governance and the nature of authority.This notion is often
associated with the concept of sovereignty and has been
discussed by philosophers such as Max Weber, John Locke,
and Thomas Hobbes.
State, Government and Social Society
Contrary to it society has persuasive power .
Society get its orders obeyed from the people through persuasion and in case
somebody does not obey the orders of the society, the society cannot give any
physical punishment to him.
State, Government and Social Society
The concept that society has persuasive power refers to the
non-coercive ways in which social norms, values, and
collective opinions influence individual behavior and decision
making. Unlike the States coercive power, which relies on
laws and threat of punishment , society’s persuasive power
works through cultural, moral, and social pressures that
shape behavior without force.
State, Government and Social Society
State has coercive power, Society has persuasive. Power
State is a political system and ‘ legitimate coercive power’
is one of the essential characteristics.
State, Government and Social Society
A Government is the system or group of people governing an
organized community, generally a state in common use.
State, Government and Social Society
Types of Governments:
Government come in a variety of forms that vary based on:
► Who holds power,
► How positions of leadership are obtained, and
► How authority is maintained.
The United States is a democratic presidential republic: a
democratic government headed by a powerful elective
executive, the president.
State, Government and Social Society
Following are the types of Government:
1. Oligarchy
2. Dictatorship
3. Totalitarianism
State, Government and Social Society
Oligarchy:
An oligarchy is a form of government or power structure in
which a small group of people, often from a particular class,
family, or interest group, hold concentrated control over a
country, organization, or institution.
State, Government and Social Society
Dictatorship:
It is a form of government in which a single individual or a
small group holds absolute power, with little or no
constitutional, legal or political constraints.
State, Government and Social Society
Totalitarianism:
It is an extreme form of authoritarian government where it
seeks to control nearly every aspect of public and private
life. In totalitarianism , the government exercises absolute
and centralizing authority using propaganda, mass
surveillance, state control of the economy, and often the use
of terror to suppress opposition and offer total compliance
with the ideology.
State, Government and Social Society
Authoritarian Government:
Authoritarian government differ in who holds power and in
how much control they assume over those the govern,.
In an authoritarian government , the empowered are the
unelected individuals.
State, Government and Social Society
One well-known example of Authoritarian Government is a
monarchy. The person who leads a monarchy is a monarch.
There is no clear definition of monarchy.
Some monarchs have unlimited political power while many
constitutional monarchies, such as the United Kingdom and
Thailand.
The monarchs in UK and Thailand have limted political
power.
State, Government and Social Society
Democratic Governments:
Democracy is a form of government in which the right to
govern is held by the majority of citizens within a country or
a state.
State, Government and Social Society
The two principle of a democracy are that:
All citizens have equal access to power and that all citizens
enjoy universally recognized freedoms and liberties.
Distinction between the State and
Government
1. Government is an element of State: We know that the four
elements of the State are:
a.Population
b.Fixed territory
c.Government
d.Sovereignty
Society is also made up of different organs and government
is one organ of them.
Distinction between the State and
Government
2.Fixed territory is essential for the state not for the
Government:
So long the people led the life of nomads roaming from one
place to another, the state did not come into existence. But
when people settled down permanently on one place, this
became the first step toward the establishment of state.
Distinction between the State and
Government
3. State is Sovereign, Government is not:
The distinction between the state and the
government, particularly the idea that the state is
sovereign while government is not, is central to
political theory and understanding of authority and
power in modern societies.
Distinction between the State and
Government
State refers to the overarching political entity or
organization that has ultimate authority over a particular
territory and its population. It includes the institutions and
structures that define and maintain social order, enforce
laws, and provide services.
Distinction between the State and
Government
Government is a set of institutions ad officials who are
empowered to make
decisions on behalf of the state. It is an agent of the state,
tasked with managing the state’s functions, such as
enforcing laws, managing the economy, and implementing
policies.
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
The structure and Function of Government in Pakistan are
based on the constitution of 1973. Which established it as a
federal parliamentary republic. Pakistan government
operates under three main branches:
Executive
Legislative
Judiciary
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
1. Executive Branch:
- President: The president is the ceremonial head of the
state in Pakistan and is elected by the Electoral College for a
five year term. The President’s role is largely symbolic, but
they have the power to dissolve the National Assembly and
call for new elections in some circumstances.
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
Prime Minister:
The Prime Minister is the head of the government and holds
most executive powers. They are the leader of the majority
party in the National in the National Assembly and are
responsible for running day to day affairs of the country,
Implementing laws, and managing government policies. The
Prime Minister is appointed by the President and must have
the confidence of the National Assembly.
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
Cabinet:
The Prime Minister leads the Cabinet, which consists of
ministers and advisors who lead various ministries (e,g.,
finance, foreign affairs, interior). They are responsible for
policy-making and administration in their respective sectors.
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
2. Legislative Branch
Pakistan has a bicameral legislature, known as the
Parliament, which consists of two houses:
-National Assembly: The National Assembly is the lower
house, consisting of members directly elected by the people
through general elections for five-year terms. It has 336
seats, of which 272 are elected directly, and 70 seats are
reserved for women and minorities.
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
Senate: The Senate is the upper house with members elected
indirectly by the provincial assemblies. It has 100 members,
and elections are held every three years for half of the
seats. The senate represents the provinces and ensure equal
representation for all provinces, regardless of population
size.
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
-The parliament makes laws, approves the budget, and
holds the executive accountable through parliamentary
committees and sessions. The National Assembly holds the
primary power to pass legislation, while the senate acts as a
review body.
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
3. Judicial Branch :
a) Supreme Court:
-Role: The Supreme Court is the highest court in Pakistan.
- Structure: Led by the Chief Justice, it has the judges
appointed by the president on the advice of the judicial
commission.
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
- Powers:
- Reviews the constitutioanlity of laws (Judicial Review
- Hear appeals on important legal and constitutional
matters
- Ensure the enforcement of fundamental rights
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
b. Other Courts:
-High Court: One on each province , hearing appeals and
original cases.
- Federal Shariat Court: Ensutes laws conform to Islamic
Principles.
- Lower Courts: Deal with civil and criminal cases at the
district level.
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
4. Provincial Governments:
Pakistan has a federal structure with four provinces: Punjab.
Sindh, Khyber Paktunkhwa, and Baluchistan, plus regions like
Islamabad Capital territory and Gilgit-Baltistan
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
Provincial Governments:
-Each province has a provincial assembly, a chief minister,
and a governor (appointed by the president).
-Provinces have autonomy in many matters like education,
health, agriculture, and law enforcement, but key sectors
like defense, foreign affairs, and currency remains with the
federal government.
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
5.Local Governments: Local governments exist at the
district, tehsil, and union council levels, and they are
responsible for basic services like sanitation, health, and
education at the grassroot levels. However, the power and
structure of local governments have varied over time
depending on political changes.
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
Key Functions of the Government:
- Legislation and Lawmaking: The parliament drafts, debates, and enact
laws.
- Executive Administration : The prime minister and cabinet administer
and enforce laws.
- Judicial Review and Interpretation: Courts interpret the laws and
protect citizens rights.
- Security and Defense: The military, under civilian control, ensures
national defense
- Foreign Relations: The government handles foreign affairs, diplomacy,
and international treaties.
Structure and Function of Government
in Pakistan
Challenges:
Inter-institutional Conflicts: Tensions sometimes arise between the judiciary,
military, and civilian government.
Decentralization: While provinces have autonomy, power struggle over resources
distribution are common
Corruption and Governance issues: These have often impacted the efficiency and
trust in the system.
The structure allows Pakistan to balance federal and provincial governance while
maintaining Islamic values within a democratic framework.
