State is a concept that refers to a political entity that possesses a defined territory, a population, and a government that has the authority to make and enforce laws within that territory.
Different political thinkers have different definitions and understandings of the state.
According to the philosopher Thomas Hobbes, the state is a necessary institution that emerges from a state of nature in order to provide security and stability for its citizens. He believed that without the state, individuals would be in a constant state of war and chaos.
The philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau believed that the state should be based on the will of the people, and that the government should be accountable to the citizens it serves. He believed that the state should be a tool for the common good, and that it should be guided by the principle of the general will.
Karl Marx, on the other hand, believed that the state is a tool of the ruling class, used to maintain their power and exploit the working class. He believed that the state would eventually be abolished in a socialist society.
Max Weber, a German sociologist, defined the state as an institution that has a monopoly on the legitimate use of force within a specific territory. He believed that the state could be either a democracy, where the people have a say in the government, or an authoritarian regime, where a single ruler or small group of rulers hold power.
Gandhi's ideas on stateless society:-Gandhi's concept of a stateless society was based on the principles of Swaraj (self-rule) and Sarvodaya (the welfare of all). He believed that individuals and communities should be responsible for their own governance, and that the state should only play a minimal role in society.Gandhi's ideas on stateless society have been criticized by some, who argue that a stateless society would be vulnerable to chaos and anarchy. However, others argue that Gandhi's vision of a stateless society is a powerful and inspiring idea that is still relevant today.
Gandhi's ideas on stateless society were based on the principles of non-violence, self-rule and community empowerment. He believed that a society based on these principles could exist without the need for a centralized government. His idea of stateless society is still being discussed and debated in the context of modern society.
The concept of the state is a complex one, and various thinkers have offered different perspectives on its nature and purpose. Some see it as a necessary institution for maintaining order, while others see it as a tool of oppression.