Understanding Society, State, and Governance: Key Concepts
Society and its Foundations
Society: People are social by nature and live in society. As Aristotle asserted, humans are “social or community political animals.”
Family: This relationship has a unique social value and arises from the marital bond.
Civil Society: There is another kind of human relationship with a higher level of sociability than the family, which includes individuals and families looking to fulfill their needs.
Organization of Common Action: Sharing the currency of work fulfills the human need to produce and distribute goods.
Authority: We need some people or institutions to direct the operation of the joint action of individuals.
Justice and Law: They regulate society properly and provide criteria for equality and harmony.
Intermediate Societies: Situated between the individual and the state, they help shape civil society, always looking for the good of all.
Theories of Society and State
Organicist Theory of Society: The main representatives are Savigny and Hegel. Savigny believed that laws and institutions of society reflect a natural evolution, while Hegel considered the rationale of people to be part of a state.
Natural Law Theory: This theory considers that, in addition to individual human nature, the social aspect is also inherent, and God is the author of nature.
Elements of the State
City: A group of people living in a given territory and receiving the state’s actions.
Territory: The area occupied by the state. It has borders and includes the land, air, and sea space, if necessary. The limits of this space are the result of history.
Sovereignty: One of the most important elements, involving the state’s ability to make decisions and implement them within and outside the state.
Legal Order: The set of laws regulating the coexistence of all citizens of a territory and are enforceable.
Common Good: The principle that must guide state activity.
Types of States
Liberal States: These states defend popular sovereignty, the separation of powers, compliance with the principle of legality and equality of all citizens, and the protection of basic fundamental rights.
Social States: They believe that the state must intervene to protect disadvantaged citizens and have an impact on ensuring a range of rights.
Parliamentary Monarchy: Its representative figure is the king, but power resides in the people, who elect a parliament and government through universal suffrage. The king reigns but does not govern; he must accept the constitution, and his office is for life and hereditary.
Republic: Its representative is a president chosen by the people through universal suffrage. Citizens also choose a parliament and government.
Absolutist States: The king holds all power and thinks solely and exclusively. He believes that he should exercise this power in favor of the village community but from his own personal criteria.
Authoritarian States: Power is exercised in a totalitarian or despotic manner, invading the sphere of freedom of individuals and reducing their freedom and creativity.
Unitary States: Government decisions are taken by a central government, and an administrative division is responsible for ensuring that policy decisions from the center are met throughout the territory.
Autonomous States: We speak of autonomous states because their territories have a high level of decentralization.
Globalization: Regions from different countries come together and seek to administer powers of the states, asking to share some of their power, giving the state a coordinating role.
Principles of Democracy
- Individual Rights: People have certain rights that the state must respect.
- Equality Before the Law: All persons have the same rights and duties.
- National Sovereignty: The power resides in the people, who choose their representatives.
- Universal Suffrage: Older people are entitled to vote, both individually and by secret ballot, through which they elect their representatives.
- Separation of Powers:
- Legislative: Has the power to make laws.
- Executive: Exerts the action of government, always in accordance with the laws.
- Judicial: Administers justice in accordance with the laws.
- Political Pluralism: Allows the coexistence of different ideologies that are presented by political parties.