MODULE 2

Government as a Concept in Political Theory

2.1 Main Currents of Western Political Thought on Statecraft

2.1.1 Plato’s Ideal State as given in ‘The Republic’ - Concept of Philosopher King.
2.1.2 Machiavelli’s view on Statecraft- Advices to Prudent Prince in ‘The Prince’
2.1.3 Aristotle’s Classification of Governments

2.2 Modern Classification of Government

2.2.1. Unitary and Federal Government (Meaning and Definition, Features, Merits and Demerits and
Comparative Study)
2.2.2 Quasi- Federal State, India as a Quasi- Federal State
2.2.3. Parliamentary and Presidential Government (Meaning and Definition, Features, Merits and
Demerits and Comparative Study)
Government as a Concept in political Theory:
Definition- A government is an institution or system made of group of
people that takes care or manages a country/state... It is defined as the
authority, responsible for establishing policies that govern society. This is
the decision-making body that governs nation or a State.
It encapsulates the ideas of authority, power & governance Systems and
establishes relationship between those who govern and the governed as
well as the mechanisms through Which decisions are made and policies
are enforced.

Legal Definition of Government:

Legal Interpretation of government focus on its authority, powers and
limitations in various legal Contacts, Government refers not only to the
body that creates & enforces law but also to the rights & obligations of
individuals within that society.
The legal definition is crucial for understanding how laws are applied & the
extent of governmental authority.
For instance, the concept of separation of powers are articulated in the
constitution, delineates the role of executive, legislative & judicial
branches of the government in any country.

How Governments are formed?

Government can be formed by force, consent or a combination of both.
Some theories about origin of government include evolutionary theory, force
theory, divine rights of king theory, and social contract.
Governments can be defined by the amount of power the leader has or by how
leaders develop power.

How Governments Function?

Government organise people & resources to run state efficiently. Government
protects people from natural disasters, invading armies and from other crisis.
Government impact the very life of the citizens including their economic
activities & human rights. Government enforce organizational policies.

How Governments are structured?

Government are made up of legislative, executive and judiciary. Many
countries have constitution that states their governing principles and
philosophy.

Types of Government:
In political theory, the concept of government refers to the different types
of system that govern the country and role they play in society.
The main types of government include-
^AUTOCRACY
-Single person has absolute powers and no restraints. Example: North
Korea, Adolf Hitler.
-It includes some form of monarchy and all forms of dictatorship while it is
contrast with democracy and federalism.
-It is a system of government in which the complete powers of the state
are concentrated in the hands of one single person.

^ARISTOCRACY
-It is a form of government where a small privileged class of people rule.
-the ruling class are called as aristocrats, and they have social, economic
and political power.

FEATURES:
I. Aristocratic status is passed down through generations.
II. Aristocrats have honorary titles such as Duke, Dutche, Baron and
Baroness.
III. Aristocratic have social and economic prestige.

Two basic type of aristocracy----Hereditary and Non-Hereditary.

Hereditary was based on inheriting one's of social Status & title from ones
parents usually father. Non-Hereditary aristocracy is one in which a person
receives privilege based on service or merit.
The defining characteristic of histories aristocracy were an esteemed
blend of military success; land ownership political power, elite privilege,
rich fortune; grand houses & the state especially as well as the more
virtuous characteristics of loyalty, bravery, duty, honour and service.
The five pillars of Aristocracy are Beauty, Wealth, Birth, Genius and Virtue.
Example: UK, Monaco, Denmark, Sweden.
DEMOCRACY
‘Demo’ means people and ‘Kratos’ means rule.
Democracy thus is a system of government in which state power is vested
in the people or the general people of the state.
In a direct democracy, the people have the direct authority to deliberate
and decide legislation.
In a representative democracy, the people choose the governing officials
through elections.
Today, the dominant form of Democracy is a represent form of democracy
where the citizens elect government officials to govern on their behalf
such in a parliamentary or presidential democracy.
In a common variant of liberal democracy, the power of the majority are
exercised in a framework of representative democracy but constitution
and supreme court limits the majority and protect the minority usually to
secure the enjoyment for everyone by all certain individual rights such as
freedom of speech or freedom of association.

FEATURES:
-Freedom of speech, expression, press, opinion, and right to information.
-Equality
-Civil participation in shaping policies and societies.
-Existence of elected representative.
-Existence of rule of law.
-periodic elections exist regularly, inclusively, transparency and credibly.
-separation of powers and empowered citizens.
-There are checks and balances to prevent any branch of government
from becoming too powerful.
2.1.1 Plato’s Ideal State as given in ‘The Republic’ - Concept of
Philosopher King.

-Plato born in 427BC in Athens, is regarded as father of political

philosophy and the founder of political idealism.
-A student of Socrates, Plato led the importance of philosophical
foundation for western political thought influencing generations of
thinkers, as a rationalist and revolutionary.
-Plato envisioned as ideal society and that challenged the existing order.
-He gave many theories like theory of ideas, theory of souls, theory of
justice, theory of ideas, theory of education and the theory of communism
under which the theory of philosophical king comes.
-Plato's theory of Communism is a vital part of his political philosophy, influenced by the
city-state of Sparta.
-It advocates for communal ownership of property and family aiming to eliminate personal
wealth and families among the ruling and the soldier classes.
-Plato's philosophy presents a strong case for an omnicompetent state, emphasizing that while
living in one thing, living well is another.
-The government's role is to help people achieve a complete life. Plato's focus is not merely
on creating a government but establishing a just and ideal one.
In The Republic, he outlines the ideal state in three stages:

1. The Healthy State

2. The Luxurious State
3. The Just State

-The healthy state, the city of pigs, which satisfy basic needs through the
division of labor.
-The luxurious state, emerging from the desire of healthy state, requiring
auxiliary classes.
-The just state, where the philosophers guide the community.
This illustrates the three classes of ideal state:
The producing class
The auxiliary class
The ruling class.

-Plato's rulers, whether the philosophers in the Republic, the statesmen in

the Statesment, or the laws in the law, are tasked with promoting the
community's interests. -Their goal is the greatest happiness of the whole,
maintaining order of justice.
-Rulers must be wise, courageous, temperate, and just, using the
knowledge to perform their responsibilities effectively.
-The use of analogues throughout his work highlight the importance of
skilled government, comparing rulers to artists, shepherds, and
physicians.
-Knowledge is paramount for rulers to carry out their duties perfectly. They
must know the science of politics and apply it as artists apply their craft.
-To ensure the rulers remain aligned with their ideas, Plato employs
communist principles emphasizing loyalty to customs and laws.

-Plato's theory of philosopher King underscores the need for competent

individuals to govern.
-He critiques democratic systems advocating for government led by an
intellectual elite.
-He paused that for a city to become ideal, philosophers must rule and rulers must embrace
philosophy, eliminate corruption and evil.
-The philosopher king must possess reason under the 50 years of education and have no personal
property or family.
-They are granted absolute power with their wisdom, unchallengeable by public opinion but cannot
alter the state, constitution of law.
-In law, Plato assigned significant importance to law, viewing it as an essential for maintaining order
and justice in the ideal state.
-He prioritized duties over individual rights, leading some to label as the first fascist in history.
-Plato's philosophy reflects authorization, ideas, advocating for the society governed by a wise elite
committed to a common good.
-Thus, we can say that Plato's ideal state is the one which is ruled by a philosopher king, a ruler who
combines political skills and philosophical knowledge and ensures great possible happiness for all the
citizens.
-Plato's philosopher king is chosen based on merit intellectual process, philosophical education.
-He is free from vices that tempt others to abuse power.
-Philosophical king is able to apply their knowledge for the good of the state and see the betterment
of the community.
-Plato's Philosophical king is thus able to realize that happiness of the part, is dependent upon
happiness of the whole.
2.1.2 Machiavelli’s view on Statecraft- Advices to Prudent
Prince in ‘The Prince’

 Niccolo Machiavelli’s was a Italian philosopher who serve republican

of Florence in Italy. His work reflects the modern political thought.
 He wrote a monograph “The Prince” in 1513, a recognized work, address
to the governor of France Lorenzo De Medici, to gain his favours.

— Machiavellianism:
 It is a word that denotes the potential to be manipulative, to
act cunningly or for someone who tries every way to gain
power.
 The word is used in a negative connotation and interestingly
one among the 3 personality traits of the Dark traid along
with narcissism and psychopathy.
 ‘The Prince” is regulated as real political thought