The State: Definition, Essential Elements, and Historical Roots
Origins of Social Organization
The earliest form of social organization, often associated with family reunification, was the horde. This was a group of individuals associated without fixed rules, often living under a regime of promiscuity. This regime began when early man possessed very little; knowledge and resources were extremely limited. Means of subsistence were reduced to hunting and fishing, and these groups were nomadic.
Early social structures evolved and were strengthened through subsequent orders, including:
- The Horde
- The Matriarchy
- The Patriarchy
The State as the Perfect Form of Social Organization
The State is often viewed as the most suitable form of organization in society, modeling and determining the relationships of coexistence among its members. It is important to note that the State is not the only form of society; others include religion and nationality.
Defining the State
The State is a necessary society, formally and organically established in a given territory, ruled by a supreme and independent power, striving for the realization of human ends. The State is the product of social-historical transformation and is intrinsically linked to law. It is the creation of man, his culture, and his intuition, and cannot exist without these elements.
Essential Elements of the State
The organizational structure of the State requires three concurrent elements:
- The People (Material Plane)
- The Territory (Material Plane)
- Power/Sovereignty (Ideological Plane)
Historical Precursors: The Polis
The Polis (City-State) was a foundational political organization in the classical world. It was a small social group united by a common religious concept and centered around its environment. The Polis was regarded as an extended family.
Man needed to be grouped into society to achieve several goals:
- Establishment in a defined territory.
- Maintenance of order through personalized power.
- Attainment of lasting peace.
The Three Existential Conditions of the State
1. Territory
The Territory is the physical aspect where the State and its community reside, where man is rooted and has his affections. The domain of the State over its territory extends over the following areas:
- The high seas and territorial sea
- Continental shelf
- Contiguous zone
- Air space
2. The People (Citizenry)
The People are the natural condition of the State par excellence—the human group that allows the State to be self-sufficient. The population takes two variants:
- The People: The demographic aspect.
- The Nation: The cultural aspect.
3. Power (Sovereignty)
Power is the politically integrated existential condition, serving as the point of union with the rest of the conditions. The authority of power rests on legitimacy and the trust placed in the depository of power, who has been recognized as a superior personality or authority.