What’s is It

State

There are many definitions of state. However, for your better understanding,
let us try to analyze one of the most common definitions of state: it is a community
of persons, more or less numerous, occupying a definite portion of earth’s surface,
having its own government, through which the inhabitants render habitual
obedience free from outside control.

From the definitions, we can derive the four elements of the state – people,
territory, government and sovereignty.

1. People or Population

It is important that a community of persons is composed of both males and

females for purposes of reproduction. Reproduction is indispensable. It is through
reproduction that the state can continue to exist. There is no requirement to the
number of people living in a territory for it to be classified as a state. However, it is
recognized that the population should be neither too large nor very small. It has to
be within a reasonable limit. It should be determined on the basis of the size of the
territory of the State, the available resources, the standard of living expected and
needs of production of goods and supplies.

It is a human political institution. Without a population there can be no

State. Population can be more or less but it has to be there. There are States with
very small populations like Switzerland, Canada and others, and there are States
like China, India and others, with very large populations.

2. Territory

The territory should be a fixed and bounded portion of the earth’s surface.
Within it, are natural resources that are vital for people to live. The inhabitants
have the responsibility to conserve and protect these resources. Furthermore, the
people must be able to defend their state from invaders and doing so, the use of
force may be justified.

3. Government

In order to maintain an organized state, there should be a government. The

government is that body where people, through their representatives, can express
their desire. This is where that laws to be implemented in the country are enacted.
Since it is believed that the government should be established by the people

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themselves, through the Constitution that they will promulgate, it is but logical for
them to bestow their obedience to it. The people should follow the laws and respect
authority.

You must remember that a state cannot exist without a government. It is a

one of the vital elements of the state. This sometimes creates the impression that
there is no difference between the State and Government. However, it must be
clearly noted that government is just one element of the State. It is the agent or the
working agency of the State. Sovereignty belongs to the State; the government only
uses it on behalf of the State.

There are three branches of Government:

1. Legislative which formulate the will of the state i.e. performs law-
making functions;
2. Executive enforces and implements the laws i.e. performs the law-
application functions; and
3. Judiciary which applies the laws to specific cases and settles the
disputes i.e. performs adjudication functions.

4. Sovereignty

It refers to the supreme power of the state to rule itself without interference
from other state. This means that the state is an independent entity where people
enjoy freedom. A territory is not a state if it is not independent.

As the supreme power of the State, Sovereignty has two dimensions:

1. Internal Sovereignty

It means the power of the State to order and regulate the activities of all the
people, groups and institutions which are at work within its territory. All these
institutions always act in accordance with the laws of the State. The State can
punish them for every violation of any of its laws.

Any time we obey the law - keep the traffic rules, pay taxes, avoid criminal
behavior etc. we observe the internal sovereignty of our state. If a foreign element
disregards the law - for example an international corporation who gets tax
exemption because the state wants it to operate a factory and create jobs - this is
an example of a challenge to the internal sovereignty.

2. External Sovereignty

It means complete independence of the State from external control. It also

means the full freedom of the State to participate in the activities of the community
of nations. Each state has the sovereign power to formulate and act on the basis of
its independent foreign policy.

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THE ORIGIN OF THE STATE
The table below are the theories that would explain the origin of the state.

Origin Description

 It holds that the state was created by God for the people.
 The State its advocates maintain was Created by God and
governed by His deputy or vicegerent.
 He (God) sent His deputy to rule over them.
 The ruler was divinely appointed agent and he was responsible
Divine
for his actions to God alone.
Theory
 As the ruler was the deputy of God, obedience to him was held
to be religious duty and resistance a sin.
 To complain against the authority of the ruler and characterize
his actions as unjust was a sin for which there was divine
punishment.
 The people have agreed to established the state to their
common benefit.
Social  It postulates a state of nature as the original condition’s
Contract mankind and a social contract.
Theory  The state of nature was not an organized society.
 Each man living therein led a life of his own, uncontrolled by
any laws of human imposition.
 It was established through the use of force in order for people
to follow.
 Emphasizes the origin of the State in subornation of the weak
to the strong.
 A person physically stronger than captured and enslaved the
Force weak.
Theory  Having increased the number of his followers, over whom he
exercised undisputed authority, he became a tribal chief.
 The powerful conquered the weak this process of conquest and
domination continued till the victorious tribe secured control
over a definite territory.

Functions of State

 It maintains law, order and stability, resolves various kinds of disputes

through the legal system;
 It provides common defense;
 Looks out for the welfare of the population in ways that are beyond the
means of the individual, such as implementing public health measures;
 Provide mass education and underwrites expensive medical research and;
 And it operates in the interests of various dominant groups, such as
economic classes and racial and ethnic groups. .

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Non-state Institutions

These are institutions which are not owned and controlled by the
government. Some non-state institutions are either for profit or non-profit and
some are for personal investments and financial assistance.

Forms of Non-state Institutions

A. Banks and Corporations

A bank is a financial institution which deals with deposits and advances and
other related services. It receives money from those who want to save in the form of
deposits and it lends money to those who need.
According to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas the top 3 banks in the Philippines
as of December 31, 2019 are:

1. BDO UNIBANK INC

BDO Unibank Inc. is the largest of the banks in the Philippines in terms of
assets. The full-service universal bank also takes the lead in consolidated resources,
deposits, customer loans, and branch and ATM network all over the country.

BDO offers a wide range of products and services, such as deposits, lending,
foreign exchange, trusts and investments, brokering, credit cards, remittances, and
corporate cash management. Founded in 1968 as a thrift bank called Acme
Savings Bank, it was renamed Banco de Oro Savings and Mortgage Bank when it
was acquired by the Sy Group in 1976.

2. METROPOLITAN BANK & TCO

Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company, or Metrobank, is one of the premier

financial institutions in the country. It currently offers a wide range of banking
products and services all over the world, with its network of more than 2,300 ATMs,
950 local branches, 32 foreign branches, and representative offices.

Metrobank was founded in 1962 and opened its first branch a year later. In
1970, it opened its first international branch in Taipei. Three years later, it
established a representative office in Hong Kong. Metrobank was also the first of
the private banks in the Philippines to open in the US with its office in Guam in
1975.

3. LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES

The government-owned Land Bank of the Philippines is considered the

largest formal credit institution in the rural areas. It is also one of the top
commercial banks in the Philippines in terms of assets, loans, and deposits.

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 Landbank was established in 1963 to help farmers and fishermen through
revenues from its commercial banking operations. It enables the universal bank to
strike a balance between maintaining a financially viable institution and supporting
rural development initiatives. The universal bank manages a strong rural branch
network consisting of 365 branches and more than 1,600 ATMs.

Banks play an important role as intermediary or go-between the financial

system.

There are three main functions of banks:

1. Banks are depository of savings.
2. Banks are largely responsible for the payments system.
3. Banks issue loans to both people and companies.

A corporation is a company or group of people authorized to act as single

entity and recognized as such in law. Early incorporated entities were established
by charter. Most jurisdictions now allow the creation of new corporations through
registration.

Corporations come in many different types but are usually divided by the
law of jurisdiction where they are chartered into two kinds: by whether or not they
can issue stocks or by whether or not they are for profit.

One of the corporations in the Philippines is SM Investments Corp. It is

incorporated on Jan. 15, 1960. It serves as the holding company of the SM Group,
with interests in retail, property and banking. The company is engaged in
businesses through its subsidiaries, namely retail (“The SM Store,” SM
Supermarket, SM Hypermarket, SaveMore, Walter Mart Supermarket, Inc., and
Alfamart), property (SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and SM Development Corp.) and
financial services (BDO Unibank, Inc. and China Banking Corp.).

B. Cooperatives and Trade Unions

Cooperative is firm owned, controlled, and operated by a group of users for

their own benefits. Each member contributes equity capital, and shares in the
control of the firm in the basis of one-member one-vote.

It is an autonomous association of persons united voluntary to meet their

common economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly-
owned and democratically-controlled enterprise.

One of the most outstanding cooperatives in the Philippines is ACDI

Multipurpose Cooperative it is the largest cooperative in the country with an asset
base of nearly 12.29 Billion pesos as of December 2014. Awarded as the Gawad
Parangal Most Outstanding Cooperative Large-Scale Category by the Cooperative
Development Authority.

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 A trade union is an organization made up of member (a member-based
organization) and its membership must be made up mainly of workers. The main
purpose is to protect and advance the interest of its members in the workplace.

Example of trade union in the Philippines is the Trade Union Congress of the
Philippines (TUCP), with 1.2 million members, is the biggest confederation of labor
federations in the Philippines. It was founded on December 14, 1975 by 23 labor
federations which saw the necessity and importance of uniting themselves into a
strong and dynamic labor center. Today, the TUCP, as the most representative
labor center in the country is composed of almost 30 federations with members in
all sectors and industries (from agriculture to manufacturing to services) including
government employees. It also has members coming from associations /
organizations of groups from the OFWs, informal sector, drivers, urban poor, youth
groups, cooperatives, alliances, coalitions and other civil society groups.

C. Transnational Advocacy Groups

Advocacy and advocacy groups represent a wide range of categories and

support several issues listed on [Link]. The Advocacy Institute, a US-
based global organization, for example, is dedicated to strengthening the capacity of
political, social and economic justice advocates to influence and change public
policy.

Who participates in transnational advocacy groups? There is no single list,

but the major actors often include:

1. National and International nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)

2. Local social movements
3. Foundations
4. The media
5. Religious organizations, trade unions and consumer organizations
6. Intellectual and scholars
7. Agencies within international and regional intergovernmental
organizations
8. Parts of executive or parliamentary branches of government

This varies actors from visible ties and mutually understood roles. They
develop strategically linked activities among themselves in order to forward a
principled cause. They work on multiple fronts, using different methods. They seek
not merely to influence, but to change the very terms and values international
policy and practice.

D. Development Agencies

The most influential groups of non-state institutions. These are

organizations which provide development assistance between national and

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international institutions. Usually, these are the links that bind different states
together.

In 1945, the international organization United Nations (UN) was established

to rebuild peace after World War II. The war brought forth the birth on non-state
institutions that link nations together.

The following are some of the development agencies under UN:

1. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

The UNESCO is a specialized agency of the UN for the purpose of promoting

peace and security through international partnership in education, science, and
culture to promote a world with justice, rule of law, human rights among others.

The programs/projects of UNESCO in the Philippines are Education.

“Towards inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all”.
UNESCO is the specialized agency of the United Nations that covers all aspects and
levels of education, promoting the global Education 2030 agenda. It is the lead
agency that promotes the education 2030 agenda. Education as a fundamental
human right is at the core of UNESCO’s mission of bringing sustainable peace and
development. In consultation with the national commission and in partnership with
relevant stakeholders to nation states.

2. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

The UNDP is the United Nations’ development agency that aims to eradicate
poverty and reduce inequalities and social exclusion in the developing countries. Its
primary purpose is to help countries to craft and develop policies, leadership skills,
networking and collaborative abilities, institutional capacity building, and building
resilience among nations so that they can sustain development results.

UNDP’s Country Programme Document (2019-2023) focuses on three key

areas of intervention: improving access to social services for the poor,
supporting the transition to environmentally sustainable development, and
responding to the drivers of conflict.

UNDP works to enhance risk-informed policies and programs, support the

implementation of the Paris Agreement and improve natural resource
management as part of its efforts towards climate action. The CPD also guides
the country towards peace and resilience by assisting in the transition of armed
groups to civilians, establishing transitional justice systems and community
platforms, and providing socioeconomic opportunities for those in conflict-
affected areas.

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3. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

It is an international organization that provides humanitarian and

developmental assistance and support to young people in developing and least
developed countries.

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives,
to defend their rights, and to help them fulfil their potential, from early childhood
through adolescence. And they never give up.

The following are some programs of UNICEF:

 Child protection and inclusion. Every child has the right to grow up in a
safe and inclusive environment UNICEF works with partners around the
world to promote policies and expand access to services that protect all
children.
 Child survival. Every child has the right and thrive. UNICEF has helped
reduce child mortality all over the world by working to reach the most
vulnerable children, everywhere.
 Education. Every child has the right to learn. UNICEF works around the
world to support quality learning for evert girl and boy especially those in
greatest danger of being left behind.

E. Non-governmental Organization (NGOS)

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a not-for-profit organization

that is independent from states and international governmental organizations. They
are usually funded by donations but some avoid formal funding altogether and run
funded and are run primarily by volunteers. Examples of NGOs include those that
support human rights, advocate for improved health or encourage political
participation.

Roles of Non-Governmental Organization

1. Development and Operation of Infrastructure:

Community-based organizations (CBOs) and cooperatives can acquire,

subdivide and develop land construct housing, provide infrastructure, operate and
maintain infrastructure such as well or public toilets and solid waste collection
services.

2. Supporting Innovation, Demonstration and Pilots Projects:

NGOs have the advantage of selecting particular places for innovate projects
and specify in advance in the length of time which they will be supporting the
project the project-overcoming some of the shortcomings that government face in
this respect.

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3. Facilitating Communication:

NGOs use interpersonal methods of communication, and study the right

entry points whereby they gain the trust of the community they seek to benefit.

4. Technical Assistance and Training:

Training institutions and NGOs can develop a technical assistance and

training capacity and use this to assist both CBOs and governments.

5. Research Monitoring and Evaluation:

Innovative activities need to be carefully documented and shared - effective

participatory monitoring would permit that share of results with the people
themselves as well as with the project staff.

6. Advocacy for and with the Poor:

In some cases, NGOs become spokespersons or ombudsmen for the poor

and attempt to influence government policies and programmers on their behalf.

Functions of Non-State Institutions

 provide a safe place to save excess cash, known as deposits;

 cooperatives and trade unions are non-state institutions play a major
role
in the economic development of the society; and
 legal entitles which are established under the state of law that are
designed to generate a profit.

What’s More

Independent Activity 1

MODIFIED TRUE OR FALSE. Read the following statements. Write TRUE if the
statement is correct and change the underlined word or phrase if the statement
is incorrect. Use the separate answer sheet in answering.

______________1. A non-governmental organization is a non-profit organization that

is independent from states and international governmental
organizations.

______________2. A corporation is an organization made up of member that aims to

protect and advance the interest of its members in the workplace.

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______________3. The territory should be a fixed and bounded portion of the earth’s
surface. Within it are natural resources which are vital for people
to live.

______________4. In order to maintain an organized state, there should be people.

______________5. Transnational Advocacy Group aims to eradicate poverty and

reduce inequalities and social exclusion in the developing
countries.

Independent Assessment 1
VENN DIAGRAM. Differentiate the concept of state from non-state institutions
using Venn Diagram. Use the separate answer sheet in answering.

STATE NON-STATE

Example: Example:

State is a community Non-State there are

living under a single establishments or agency
system of government. which are not controlled
by the government.

Independent Activity 2
Fill in the blanks. Fill in the blanks with the correct word to complete the
sentence. Use the separate answer sheet in answering.

1. The ________________ of the state can also include some islands located in the sea.
2. ________________ which applies the laws to specific cases and settles the disputes.
3. It refers a complete independence of the State from external control called
________________.
4. ________________ is considered the largest formal credit institution in the rural
areas.
5. In 1945, the international organization ________________ was established to
rebuild peace after World War II.

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