States, Society and Politics
Introduction
The
social world is made up of many aspects of life: economic, political legal,
religions, education and the like. Which of these aspect can be define
independently, but all of which influence one another. The study of politics
has long been marked by controversy over the questions of the nature of the
relations between the political and the social.
Politics and Society
According
to Karl Marx, Politics is only the one aspect of the
different form of social life, an integral part of society and power
relationship are built into very structure of society.
Society
according to Marx, is based on two keys structure:
1. An economic infrastructure which is simply a
particular arrangement of the production and distribution of goods and
services.
2. A
Social, political and ideological superstructure comprising such key social
Institutions as the state, the law and the family.
Dominations
and conflict are thus inherent in all class - divided societies. According to
Karl Marx, the class, which dominates the economic also, dominate political
power. Politics must be traced back to its 'hidden basic' - "class
struggle" which is related with entire social structure.
According
to non Marxist view, a political power has an independent
influence upon society. The social forces influence the accessing of the State
Power, which no longer resides in any one centre and political resources.
According
to Pluralist Politics involves competitions between a variety of groups, each
pressing for its own advantage and interests. Public policy is the outcome for
resultant of a number of group forces acting against each other.
State and Society
The
state is today the central institutions in a political system which means a
body of rules and practices within which political activities occurs that is
struggle for power among individuals group. Classes and caste in relation to
their own interests and to all the general regulations and orientations of
life.
Marxist view
Marxist
view the state as a political organisation produced by society but stands over
it as an alienated power and exercises authority over the whole society
1. The
state, Marx believed, is the political expression of the social dynamic
resulting from either the constant change or the relative stability of modes of
production and the resultant class division.
2. According
to Marx and Engels "the modern state is the form in which the individuals
of the capital class assert their common interests and the entire bourgeois
society is epitomized."
3. Thus,
the state as viewed by Marx and Engel is the instrument by which a system of
class dominations, a system of exploitation of one class by another is
maintained.
4. The
state then is the supreme defence mechanism of a social structure threatened by
class conflicts.
5. Marx
and Angels however never conceived of the state as a mere element of the
"superstructure" a mere epiphenomenon with no Independent role in
society.
6. The
state may attain a certain degree of Independence or "relative
autonomy"- of the social classes under certain favorable circumstances.
7. The
state as a general rule is an instrument of the economically most powerful
class in society, though under certain favorable conditions, it may be
relatively autonomous in the exercise of authority.
8. Ralph Miliband,
one of the so-called instrumentalists argues that bourgeoisie use the state as
its instrument to dominate society by virtue of the interpersonal ties between
and social compositions of state officials and economic elites.
Liberal- Pluralist
view
1. The
Pluralist considered the state as a neutral agencies responding to pressures
from various groups of society, but no linked to any particular group of social
interests.
2. The
liberal theory contrasts the state with society, defining the former in terms
of coercion and the later in terms of voluntary.
3. The pluralist viewed the state as a neutral
arena for contesting groups; the state is both disinterested and democratic.
4. The
Pluralist view of the relations between the state and Society suffers from
serious weakness. Their assumption that all citizen have potentially equal
assess to the decision-making authority of the state.
Inter relationship between state
society and politics
Political
sociology studies the interrelationship between state society and politics; how
they interact and influence each other. The interaction is a continuous process
in which the relative importance of the role of the society of polity is often
difficult to ascertain.
1. All
political system of modern states are closely related to social structure. They
are reflections of the society from which they draw their living and which they
serve.
2. Political
system society and its economy intervened in practice. The interaction between
them is continuous. The interaction resembles a two-way flow of cause and
effect.
3. It is seen by Marx, a set of coercive
institution such as Bureaucracy, the standing Army, police, prison, Judiciary
and local and national representatives bodies.
4. Politics
is about power that is the ability of a social group to pursue a course of action. If necessary against the interests and even
against the propositions of other group.
5. Politics
is about conflict, force and power and hence is concerned with the state, for
it is the Institutions of State Power that the process of decision making
centres.
6. Politics
is the expressions of the varied and complex relationships which exist between
state Institutions and the rest of society.
7. Marx
Combine the study of polity and the economy and located the primary source of
politic in sociological factors.
8. Politics
in India society is different from that in non caste societies but government
policies and ideologies of political movement are also affecting shifts in
caste and class relations.
The political order is an essential and
autonomous is the economic order. These two orders have reciprocal relations.
The most striking proof of the autonomous of the political order in relation to
social classes and their conflict.
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