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Introduction
“political”- from the Greek word polis, meaning city or sovereign state
ASK: EXPECTATIONS OR WHAT DO U THINK ARE THE TOPICS COVERED UNDER POLITICAL SCIENCE
Meaning of State
A state is a community of persons more or less numerous, permanently occupying a definite portion of territory,
having a government of their own to which the great body of inhabitants render obedience, and enjoying freedom
from external control.
Elements of State
Origin of States
1. Divine right theory- the state is of divine creation and the ruler is ordained by God to govern the people.
2. Necessity or force theory- states must have been created through force, by some great warriors who
imposed their will upon the weak.
3. Paternalistic theory- enlargement of the family (family—clan—tribe—nation---state)
4. Social contract theory- early states must have been formed by deliberate and voluntary compact among the
people to form a society and organize government for their common good.
State vs Nation
State vs Government
- A state cannot exist without a government, but it is possible to have a government without a state.
- A government is only the agency through which the state expresses its will.
Forms of government
Countries with parliamentary systems may be constitutional monarchies, where a monarch is the ceremonial
head of state while the head of government is almost always a member of the legislature (such as United
Kingdom, Sweden and Japan), or parliamentary republics, where a mostly ceremonial president is the head of
state while the head of government is regularly from the legislature (such
as Ireland, Germany, Pakistan, Indiaand Italy).