Essay The State and its functions in the modern world
The state, according to many modern researchers and scientists, is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, a special social institution that, among other things, occupies a central place in the political system of society.
We can say that the state is the most convenient, rational form of coexistence of people, developed over the years, a certain way of organizing relations between them. Regardless of the specific spatial and temporal realities that determine the specific features and characteristics of a particular state, the essence of this phenomenon presupposes relationships built on the “power-subordination” model. That is, the population of the state is subject to the ruling power, in other words, the power of the state.
Depending on the form of government and the political regime of a particular state, such relations between the state and its population can be of a different nature, starting with absolute dictatorship and totalitarianism and ending with a regime of democracy, not only enshrined in the Constitution, but also embodied in practice. However, in any case, such an organization of relations in society as a state presupposes the division of people into those who rule and those who are subordinate to them.
However, the state cannot be perceived only as a social community, the roles in which are divided into managers and subordinates. The state is a complex mechanism, whose existence is necessarily associated with the performance of a number of functions and tasks.
One of these tasks is to protect its territory and, accordingly, the population living on it, and, in almost all cases, with the possible exception of those when certain lands are seized by force, we can say that society chooses rulers or allows them to rule in exchange for ensuring their safety.
The state is a complex phenomenon, which includes a number of elements and has a variety of variations in its structure in the real world. However, regardless of the specific type and structure of a particular state, the latter must have a number of mandatory features. Such features must first of all include territory, an army, the presence of both internal and external sovereignty, the right to levy taxes and fees, the exclusive right to law-making, as well as the right to use coercion.
As noted earlier, the existence of the state is caused by the need for a certain streamlining and organization of relations in society, which would make the life of society simpler, more convenient and more rational. Are you enrolling in 2021? Our team will help you save your time and nerves: we will select directions and universities (according to your preferences and expert recommendations); we will fill out applications (all you have to do is sign); we will submit applications to Russian universities (online, by e-mail, by courier); we will monitor competition lists ( we will automate the tracking and analysis of your positions); we will tell you when and where to submit the original (we will evaluate the chances and determine the best option). Entrust the routine to professionals - more details.
That is, the state is a consequence of necessity, which is satisfied by the functions that the state performs and the tasks that it is called upon to solve. Thus, we need the state in order to satisfy certain needs, to contribute to a more comfortable and dignified life for its citizens, which is achieved by fulfilling a list of certain functions and tasks that we, accordingly, have to reveal.
There are many approaches to explaining such a phenomenon as the origin of the state. Moreover, a significant proportion of concepts proceed precisely from the fact that the state is determined by a certain need of society for it, which, in turn, means that its education was necessary to achieve certain goals.
For example, the contract theory suggests that the state was formed through a deliberate, conscious and purposeful agreement between people who believed that if they united and shared certain responsibilities among themselves, life would become more convenient. It is known that society exists more efficiently and favorably if everyone does what he does best. Farmers provide the state with food, the military protects it from attacks, and those most suitable for administrative functions rule it. Actually, for this purpose, that is, for the purpose of peaceful and rational coexistence, the state was created, in accordance with the theory we are considering.
You can also consider a psychological theory that determines the origin of the state by the characteristics of the people’s psyche. Here, too, there is a special reason, a special need for a state that would allow everyone to live in accordance with their capabilities and the specifics of their own psyche, because it is quite logical and confirmed in practice that some love and most importantly know how to manage, while others, on the contrary, are most comfortable feel themselves being subordinate to other people.
There are still a considerable number of similar concepts, however, one cannot help but notice that it is much more logical and more justified to connect the origin of the state with the totality of such reasons. So, the state is necessary for society, since it is the most convenient and rational form of coexistence of people due to the fact that it performs a number of specific functions and tasks. Identifying such functions theoretically, abstractly, without taking into account the peculiarities of the structure of a particular state, we can name such functions as ensuring the safety of its citizens, protecting territories, the ability to organize and ensure the differentiation of occupations and the distribution of responsibilities among citizens, that is, to organize the division of labor. In other words, the state organizes the order of life on its territory, distributing responsibilities and protecting society, both from external and internal threats.
The functions and tasks of the state listed above can be defined as mandatory, initial, inherent in any state, as a social and political institution. It is advisable to supplement such functions and reveal them in more detail using more specific, specific examples.
As one such example, it is advisable to consider the structure of states characteristic of our reality. In the modern world, a period has come when greater preference is given to building legal, democratic, social states. Such states presuppose mutual responsibility of the individual and the state, the supremacy of law and law, complete power in the hands of the people, separation of powers and other aspects aimed at ensuring the maximum possible decent life for citizens, equality and justice. In other words, we can say that with such a state structure, the state, represented by representatives of state power, is subordinate to citizens, in the sense that the latter elect state power, and in addition, are the only source of the latter.
The Russian Federation is no exception, whose Constitution stipulates that our state is legal, democratic, and social. This fact means that the functions of the state, which is such, are much broader than those that we have already mentioned. In addition to ensuring the safety of the population and protecting its territory, as well as organizing the economic sphere of society, the state performs a number of other, no less important and significant functions. In particular, it is designed to ensure a decent life for all its citizens, for example, by redistributing taxes for social support for the least protected sections of society, for social pensions and payments, etc. We can say that in states of this type the control and supervisory functions have weakened in comparison with states of the totalitarian type, but the number of responsibilities in relation to society has increased.
To summarize our reasoning, it must be said that the state performs a number of important functions, both controlling and regulating, ensuring the life of society, which, in turn, confirms the undeniable importance and significance of this institution, and thus answers the question of our research.
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State and society. The look of the young.
The young generation is a full-flowing river, consisting of many rivulets, streams and springs. They flow in one direction - into the future, but their appearance is unique and original. They sometimes say with regret that youth is fleeting, it is like a bright moment, a gift of fate. But the youth of the entire people has one remarkable property - it is eternal, its high purpose is to be the continuator of life. The youth of each generation leaves its own mark on the history and fate of its people. The most valuable of this inheritance is passed on to those who enter into life in new times. The youth of our Motherland has always been inseparable from the life of the people and the entire country.
I was born and live in Russia, and in the future I would like to live in Russia. Although our country is far from an ideal state, today Russia is already on the path to a new life. Many say that Russia has always had turmoil and its own special path, which can never be avoided. Well, you can follow a special path, but at the same time work and work, make every possible effort not only of one person, but of the entire society and the state as a whole. As for the turmoil and times of crisis, there are two reasons: firstly, the legal and economic illiteracy of the majority of the population, society, as well as its defenselessness; secondly, the imperfection of the country's state power. From these two main reasons arise many, many factors that adversely affect the life of the state and society.
Of course, a considerable share of these reasons depends on society itself: it does not want to work, it is defenseless, it is illiterate. Why? Is it the state that people have lost faith in that is to blame? It was this that brought the economy into decline, it was this that enshrined in legislation and the Constitution the guaranteed protection of human rights and freedoms, which remained “on paper”; in practice, this protection rarely works? Yes, we can blame the state for all our troubles as much as we like, but society and the state are closely interconnected, and they cannot live without each other. The state must work hard in all areas of activity, improve the structure of government bodies, develop and adopt programs for the development of the economy, education, ecology, healthcare and many others, and society, in turn, must raise its intellectual and spiritual level, work on an equal basis with the state and work.
What should the state do, what should it change, how should it work, so that it becomes the kind I would like to live in? The state is a system of government bodies. State power is based on the principle of separation of powers - legislative, executive, judicial. With a clear delineation of powers, on the one hand, and the interaction of all branches of government, on the other hand, as well as with the correct organization of their activities and the actual work of all bodies, the level of a rule of law state is achieved, where the law is above all. All areas, all areas of government activity are important, but the main one is the economy. Oddly enough, in our country it is the economy that is experiencing a crisis. Officially, we are on the way out of the crisis: industry is growing, the market system, monetary and tax systems are stabilizing. But in fact, prices continue to rise, there are still problems of unemployment, wages, and pensions.
"No money". We hear this every day. Let me disagree: there is money, another question is where it is and where it goes. Information about money and financial policy is important and interesting to every person. He must know why he is not receiving or receiving a salary, where his taxes are going, and so on.
Another important area of state activity is foreign and domestic policy. For me, politics is a very complex, obscure and unfamiliar concept. In general, it is called a “dirty business.” Corruption, theft, lawlessness are everywhere... Even in ancient times, Karamzin answered the question: “Well, what’s in Russia?” replied: “They steal.” This has always been the case and will probably be the case...But stop, that’s enough! I dream of the day when all this will stop, politics will become more moral and will no longer be a “dirty business”. The solution to this problem will most likely be entrusted to our younger generation, and we will try to build a bright, happy future for our children, but to bring all these ideas to life, we need: health, intelligence, spirituality, humanism. All this comes into contact with such areas of activity as healthcare, education, and culture. I think these are the most important areas of life of the state and society. We need them, and the state is interested.
Yesterday. Today. Tomorrow. Past. The present. Future. Three times merged in our Basic Law. And our future is created today. Stop talking, it’s time to act, and act together, then all adversity will pass, and a wave of warmth will come in relations between the state and society.
In conclusion, I would like to say that the topic of the state is versatile, integral, it is impossible to judge everything harshly, life itself is contradictory. There are too many “buts” in this work, such is the situation in our country. But you need to strive for the best with a smile, join hands with all people, set a goal and work towards it. Then we will all live in the state in which I would like to live peacefully and happily.