1. Changing Nature of Indian State and Administration
What is State =
(i) A state is a political association with effective Sovereignty over a geographical area
and representing population;
(ii) A State usually includes the set of institutions that claim authority to make rules to
govern people of the society in that territory
Article 12 of Indian Constitution State includes:- Govt of India; parliament; and other
Govt institutions; State Govt; State Legislature; other Govt institutions; local Govt
and local agencies , which make rules to govern the territory
( Political association; sovereignty;
geographical area/ territory;
population; set of institutions; authority to make rules and govern people;
Central, State and Local govt institutions)
Understanding Nature of State
The ideals, goals, policies, structures, roles and foci of a Govt and Society.
(Communism- Socialism; Capitalism )
The factors that influence the nature of State/Adm generally are;
i) Constitutional goals, structures and performance of structures ;
ii) Internal environment- Social, economic, political, cultural and historical factors ;
technology; and administrative structures /agencies
iii) The external environment--Social, economic, political, cultural factors and
technology; and IGOs (interaction among these institutions demine the nature
Of State

2. Evolution of Society and State
Methods to understand society and state= vedas; written documents; learning from
the life experience of forefathers and observing existing society ) Unlike other
societies , India has tremendous continuous past –DD kosambi)
Layman’s understanding of Society and state
• Primitive Society ; (no state )
• Formation of social institutions- Family ; (family performed the role of state)
• Animal rearing society;
• Agricultural practices= surplus production
• Class formation= economic inequalities; Social inequalities (caste, gender , religion
• Existence of State to protect the property and life of the people; (Kautilya’s
Arthashastra -320BC to 296 BC mention about the existence of state)
• Feudal society= concentration of land dominance of certain privileged social
groups over the large masses;
• Capitalist Society= Competition, free trade and economy
• Socialist Society- welfare of the marginalized sections
• Communism or state less Society= owning of property by Community; wither
away of state
• (thus property relations or distribution of resources among the social
groups, regions.etc determine the nature of state)

3. Philosophers’ views on the state
• State is a complex phenomenon and problematic institution – • No consensus among the thinkers on evolution of State, & its
nature, definition, structure, functions
• Evolution of civilization - codified certain laws/rules or shared
norms, kinship , political system, sovereign authority , divine, ethical and
legal notions became reference point for defining state .
• The simple terms – the State is defined as a system of relationship in
terms of its basic features- territory; population-membership of
community; government- institutions & regulation of internal affairs
, bureaucracy judiciary and military and sovereignty – of people & other
states .
• It is also viewed as configuration of organizations and actions that
influence the policies for all groups and classes in the society
• Monopoly of control over means of violence, territory and
sovereignty, constitutionality, impersonal power, public
bureaucracy, authority, legitimacy and citizenship

4. Characteristics of State
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
The state is /has :
a unique and separate association (other than social institution;
Legitimate authority to govern the society ;
Control the resources and distribute among the social groups as per the norms;
perceptive, omnipotent- all powerful and arbitrary ;
Maintain cohesion/solidarity of a class-divided society ;
Institutionalized political power;
serving the interests of the influential & disorientation for representing general
interest ;
supporting capital and sustaining its pattern of accumulation;
Minimal State; Corporate State; Competitive State ;Capitalist State ;
Soft state; Hard State ;Both Soft & Hard State ;
Feudal and absolute State ;
Modern State;
Welfare State ;
Global State

5. Conti (Manor)
Based on Literature State can be broadly classified;
i) Prior to 1950’s = feudal state; Absolute State- Monarch rule ; Laissez-fare State;
ii) From 1960’s- 1970’s= Modern / Development State; Welfare State
iii) From 1980’s- = peripheral State; Dependency State; Bureaucratic- authoritarian
State ;
iv) From 1990’s=
v) Predator(killer) State;
vi) vampire (parasite) State;
vii) Receiver State;
viii) prostrate (powerless) State;
ix) Fictitious (untrue/ pretend )State;
x) Show of State;
xi) Collapsed State;
xii) Rentier (tenant) State ;
xiii) Market State= free trade;
xiv) End of Nation State ; ( borderless State )
xv) End of ideology ( democracy solved all problems= the problems are technical
adjustments)

6. Perspectives on the Nature of the State (Liberal, Marxist & Neo-Liberal)
The study/analysis on State focus on individuals, egalitarianism and universalism
Different perspectives= Liberal = Marxist =Neo-Liberal
• Liberal perspective (Thomas Hobes ;John Locke; Rousseau; David Hume; Adam
Smith; James Mill; Bentham
Their view is individuals surrender all their powers through a contract to a third
party-the state
 State is rational and maintain universal standards of human nature and justice;
 Support rule of law; equality, freedom and democracy (19th century liberals)
 Protect the individual freedom to pursue their private life and accumulate wealth
and property;
 Participatory Democracy and right to vote ( Rousseau);
 Liberty and equality with concern for social justice ( Max Weber in 20th century)
 Free market ;&Lesser role to State (V Pareto, ; Max Weber , Locke
 Bentham- greatest happiness for greatest number of people;
 Happiness of the people is the end of the state ; bureaucratization of public
services; legislation; accommodating change and diversity;
 Hegal- extreme poverty is due to private property ; strong institutional structures
are necessary to correct the distortions
 Adam Smith = Laissez-fare and state minimalism
 John Stuart Mill =deviated from Laissez-fare and advocated optional areas of
State interference for promotion of citizens virtues/qualities;

7. Marxist Perspectives on the Nature of the State
 The State/ government always serves the economic interest of the ruling
Class;
 The state reconcile the differences of interests within the ruling class and
promote capitalist production ;
 The State maintain social order for promoting the interests of capitalist
society;
 The state and bureaucratic institutions constitute source of power &
work under the control of dominant class;
 The state and bureaucracy are class instruments to coordinate the divided
society to protect the interests of ruling;
 The State prevent the development of revolutionary forces / influence;
 But in an unequal social and economic system the contradictions are
inevitable
 The state instead resolving the contradictions and work for the welfare of
poor/depressed class, it support the ruling class

8. Neo-Liberal Perspective on the Nature of the State
• Neo-Liberal or New-Right is : Most prominent in contemporary
globalized economy;
• a strong advocate of the retreat of the State- Minimal state;
• Based on public Choice theory-(Vincent Ostorm );
• States Can do no right; all distortions are due to state
interventions;
• Pro-market- support competitive market and private property;
• Limits to the discretionary of politicians;
• Curtailing powers and functions of government agencies and
bureaucracy;
• closing the public organizations
• World is one nation and boundaries of a State do not act as
hurdles for free trade , goods and services;
• State is passive vehicle in globalized economy;
• The best states can do is get out the way;

9. Conti=Neo-Liberal Perspective
Washington Consensus (1989- propagated by John William, WB & IMF)
became guiding force for the States;
• Fiscal discipline.
• Redirect spending priorities from things like indiscriminate subsidies to
basic health and education.
• Lower marginal tax rates and broaden the tax base.
• Interest rate liberalization.
• A competitive exchange rate.
• Trade liberalization.
• Liberalization of FDI inflows.
• Privatization.
• Deregulation, in the sense of abolishing barriers to entry and exit.
• Secure property rights.
• In nut shell the neo-liberal perspective view the state as State is the
‘predator/killer’; ‘necessary evil’ , ‘facilitator ‘ , catalyst’ ‘ roll back of state
• But in a country where poverty and inequalities exists , state is necessary
for undertaking welfare functions

10. Bringing back the State Back in: the contemporary debate
• Globalization- free trade, disinvestment, corporatization etc , further
accentuated poverty and inequalities , especially in developing countries
• Policies , capital, technology, resources, services, institutions are
globalized ;
• Advantages= net working among the societies ; Capital inflow-FDI;
infrastructural development; availability of consumer goods; technological
innovation s;
• Disadvantages= Washington Consensus (1989- propagated by John
William, WB & IMF ;
• Change in Nation State concept ;
• disadvantaged sections are not benefited;
• Joe Stiglitz argues that the Washington Consensus is not useful to the
poor;
• Pursuing economic growth, the objectives should include "sustainable
development, egalitarian development, and democratic development"
• it is necessary to pursue "sound financial regulation, competition
policy, and policies to facilitate the transfer of technology and
transparency" in order to make markets work in a way that will support
development.

11. Changes in Nature of State
• Now the western scholars also acknowledged the positive aspects of the
state ; (2008 economic Crises through out world)
• In Corporate or Competitive State there is no place for citizens
involvement;
• What is needed is combination of State, Market and Civil Society
• Anthony work= Third Way is Renewal of Social Democracy- social
equality and justice;
• State /Governance is necessary to regulate the markets ;
• Effective legal, judicial and regulatory mechanism
• World Bank propagated Inclusive Growth as a model of development
• The rolling back of State is global compulsion ( failure of policies to solve
the problems)
• The State must give priority to territory. Population, Sovereignty of the
country;
• At the same time prepare to meet global challenges;
• Now Glocalization

12. Conclusion
Issue and Challenges are:
• The studies on state are mostly pro-establishment or proauthority;
• The studies on state are Western biased and
ahistorical, especially New Liberal or New right School;
• How to ensure Nation State ;
• How to ensure autonomy/ sovereignty to State;
• How to ensure proper utilization of resources;
• How to ensure socio-economic Justice to the people
• Probably glocalization= application of both global and local
resources, technology, knowledge to address the problems of
the society

13. Thank You