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Functions of Modern State

INTRODUCTION-

The activities undertaken by the modern state are complex and varied. This is
due to the fact that there is a strong demand by the people for active state intervention in the
social and economic affairs of the country. The statesmen of today do not place any limitation on
the powers of the government to interfere in the social and economic spheres. The only
governing principle is whether state action promotes general welfare. In every country of the
world, the laissez-fair policy has been discarded and there is a strong swing towards adoption of
Socialism, Frase is right when he says that "Socialism or Collectivism is upon us, horse, foot
and gun".

The main functions which the modern state now performs are as follows:

(i) Provision of defense and security? The primary function of the state is to protect the country
from external invasion and to maintain peace and security within the country. For smooth and
progressive working of the economic machinery, it is very essential that people should live in
perfect peace. They should not be in fear of external aggression. Every member of the society
should have full protection from the injustice or oppression of every other member of it. The
stale expenditure providing security and justice is productive because it helps indirectly in
carrying out the activities which are labeled as productive.

(ii) Economic Function: The modern slate is actively intervening in economic spheres. Though
it recognizes the individual rights in private property, it allows freedom of enterprise and
contract. When it finds that its laws are being violated, it immediately intervenes for regulating
the economic affairs. If the state finds that private capital is not forthcoming in certain industries,
it assists private enterprise in establishing and running the industries. Sometimes, the government
itself takes initiative and sets up industries. The modern economists justify state interference in
the following cases:

(a) Where Business is of Monopolistic Nature: There are certain businesses like railways, post
and telegraph, canal, electricity, water supply, etc., which are extremely useful for the people. If
they are given into private hands, the consumers can be easily exploited. So the government, in
the interest of the people, takes control of these businesses and runs them almost on a non-profit
basis.

(b) Where Private Capital is not Attracted: If in a certain industry or industries, the private
capital is shy because of the inadequate return or there is no return at all, the state must step in
and provide the requisite capital. The cases where private capital is not attracted are public
health, libraries, museums afforestation, road construction schemes, parks, etc., etc.

(c) Protection of economically weak persons: In a competitive society, the factory workers are
often exploited by their employees. The State therefore, must take suitable steps for protecting
the legitimate rights of a class having very weak bargaining powers.
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(d) Exploitation by Forming Monopolistic combination: Sometimes the businessmen form

cartel and trust and exploit the consumers by charging very high prices. The state in such cases
must intervene and prohibit the formation of such combination.

(e) Protection of Consumers: The state must protect its citizens against adulteration of food,
sale of intoxicants, etc.

(f) Supply of Currency: The state must take full control of the supply of currency in the
country. This will help the government in securing stability of prices, suitable steps to reduce
inequality of the income in the country. For this purpose, it adopts progressive system of
'taxation, levies death duties on inherited property and provides social services among the poor
section of the community.

(g) State and Economic Planning: The state in order be speed up the economic development in
a balanced manner, formulates programmes and policies to harness the human efforts and-
physical resources to the maximum possible extent. It fixes targets and priorities and then
proceeds to complete them within the specified period.

(iii) Direct Social Activities: Every modern state takes keen interest in providing social services
to its citizens. The government gives funds to the needy, sick and unemployed persons, ft
provides them free education, free medical and old age pensions. It takes care of public health
and provides them housing facilities. It opens parks, libraries, for the benefit of the people.

In short, the state's intervention in economic affairs takes the form of:

(a) Provision of facilities to the businessmen for carrying on their businesses.

(b) Direct encouragement of the business by providing them protection from foreign
competition, granting of bounties, subsidies, relief and taxation, etc., etc.

(c) Regulating economic enterprise on proper footing.

(d) Taking actual control and ownership of certain important industries.

In the last decade of the 20th century and in the 21st century, the role of the state is being
considerably reduced. Instead of performing the role of producer, controller and regulator, it will
act as protector, promoter and provider.
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The functions of a state are as comprehensive as its rights. Among them some functions are
compulsory while others are voluntary. The major ones in the compulsory category are:

Compulsory functions of a state

1. Defence against foreign attack: The most urgent function of a state is defence of the
country against foreign attack. It has to make adequate preparations in the form of weapons and
land, sea and air forces. It has to take special notice of things which can create the danger of attack
from other countries.

2. Internal peace and security: The policy of a state at home is quite as important as is its
foreign policy. It is the prime duty of the state to maintain internal peace and security. An increase
in communal riots, thefts, cases of dacoity and rebellion can endanger the existence of the state
itself. The state maintains peace and order through police and army.

3. Protection of the rights of citizens: In every state the citizens possess certain rights like
rights of life, property, freedom of thought etc. It is incumbent upon the state to protect these rights,
or which it has to formulate essential laws, arrange for proper administration and organise justice.

4. Justice: In this way justice is a compulsory function of the state. This provides for
obedience of laws in the state, maintains order and protects the rights of everyone.

Besides these compulsory functions of state, the following are its voluntary functions:

Voluntary functions of the State

1. Education: In the modern age, all states consider it their duty to make adequate
arrangement for the education of their citizens. A state of uneducated citizens can never progress.
Thus the state makes arrangements for primary schools and colleges and universities so that higher
education in sciences agriculture and the humanities may become possible. Arrangements are made
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for adjoining research centres, libraries, zoos, store houses and art classes etc. Efforts are made to
provide free primary education. Capable students are awarded scholarships by the state. But the
state should avoid unnecessary interference in educational centres.

2. Health: Along with education, modern states try to provide for the protection of
health. Provision is made for sanitation, hospitals, free medicine, vaccination and essential
energizing foods for the poor. Medical colleges are opened to end the dearth of capable doctors.
Government research centres and training schools for nurses are opened.

3. Protection of the old,poor and invalid: Modern states have also begun making
arrangements for the old, impecunious unemployed and invalid citizens. They are given financial
aid. The old people are given pension The facility of insurance insures the security of
everyone. Orphanages and homes for destitute are created.

4. Arrangement of Public Welfare services: The state organizes the railways, postal and
telegraphic facilities, wireless, etc. it is the duty of the state to make arrangements for means of
transportation such as buses, railways, aeroplanes and ships etc.

5. Social and Economic improvement: Another of the state;'s duties is effecting social and
economic improvement. The state lays down laws against harmful customs and makes necessary
arrangements for their enforcement.

6. Encouraging trade and industry; It is also the duty of the state to encourage trade and
industry and to develop it as well. Almost everywhere in the world, it is the state which controls
economic system and the mint. It is the state which standardizes the standards of measurement and
weighing. The country cannot benefit by international trade if it does not make the proper law for
import and export. The state should establish factories of the key industries in order to implement
and initiate other industries in the country. The state should also encourage cottage industries.

7. Organization of labour: The state should direct its efforts to the improvement of
conditions of labourers and lay down rules to obviate the probability of their exploitation. It is the
responsibility of the state to make efforts towards labour welfare.
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8. Proper use of natural resources of the country: A country can become powerful by land,
forests, rivers, minerals and agricultural products. Maximum benefit should be extracted from
them. On this subject, the state should direct the necessary precautionary measures, research and
search for new mineral products and lay down laws for the utilization of forests, mines, land etc.

9. Arrangement of recreation: In order to maintain the novelty and excitement in the life of
the public the state should provide means for recreation. For this film industry, dramatic societies,
etc. ought to be encouraged.

Actually the function of a modern state is not merely administration but an integral welfare
and development of its subjects. Thus, its functions have been aggrandized. The turbulence of local
situations does make an appreciable though slight alteration in them, while different political
schools of thought have recognized different functions of the state. Thus nothing final can be said
upon this subject. The only theory which can be universally acceptable is that the state should
functioning a manner calculated to add to pubic welfare but the scholars differ in their opinions
about that in which lies this public welfare. It is here that the guidance of ethics is needed. Ethics is
to determine the supreme and ultimate objective of the individual. The state shall collect the means
to the attainment of this ideal. As an example the supreme ideal of an individual is self realization
or an integral development. Thus, it is for the state to utilize the means to his physical, mental and
spiritual development.