Woodrow Wilson," State is a people organized for law within a definite territory.

"

Garner,"State is a community of people live in a definit form of territory free of external control
and possessing an organized government to which people show habitual agreement."

Prof. Laski," Date as a territorial society decided into government and subjects whose
relationships are determined by the exercise of supreme coercive power."

Elements of state:

A. Physical bases of the state

1. Population:
State is a community of persons. 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. There is no definite limit for the size of population essential for a State.

2. Territory:
Territory is the second essential element of the State. State is a territorial unit.
Definite territory is its essential component. A State cannot exist in the air or at sea.
It is essentially a territorial State. The size of the territory of a State can be big or
small; nevertheless it has to be a definite, well-marked portion of territory. States like Russia,
Canada, U.S.A., India, China, Brazil and some others are large
sized states whereas Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Maldivies, Switzerland, Togo, Brundi
and many others are States with small territories.

B. Political bases of the state

3. Government:
Government is the organisation or machinery or agency or magistracy of the State
which makes, implements, enforces and adjudicates the laws of the state.
Government is the third essential element of the State. The state exercises its
sovereign power through its government.

4. Sovereignty:
Sovereignty is the most exclusive element of State. State alone posses sovereignty.
Without sovereignty no state can exit. Some institutions can have the first three
elements (Population Territory and Government) but not sovereignty.
State has the exclusive title and prerogative to exercise supreme power over all its
people and territory. In fact, Sovereignty is the basis on which the State regulates
all aspects of the life of the people living in its territory.

(i) 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. The State can punish
them for every violation of any of its laws.

(ii) 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.
According to Woodrow Wilson, “State is a people organized for law within a definite territory.

Aristotle define the state as a union of families and villages having for its end a perfect and self-
suffering life by which it meant a happy and good life.

Burgess defines the state as a particular portion of mankind viewed as an organized unit.

According to Sidgwick “state is a combination or association of persons in the forms of

government and united together into a politically organized people of a definite territory.

According to Garner, State is a community of people live in a definite form of territory free of
external control and possessing an organized government to which people show habitual
agreement.
Prof Laski defines, State as a territorial society divided into government and subjects whose
relationships are determined by the exercise of supreme coercive power.

Types of State:
State can be classified on the basis of location, shape and size.

On the basis of location:

 Astronomical location
 Relative location
 Strategic location

Astronomical location:

Astronomical location of a state refers to the astronomical latitude and longitude of that
state on the earth. It is also the absolute location of that state. For example: The astronomical
location of Bangladesh is 23.68500 N and 90.35630 E

Relative location:

A relative location or situation is described as a displacement from another site. For

example: Bangladesh is located in the north of Bay of Bengal and south of the Himalayas and
bordered by the countries of Indian and Mayanmar.

Strategic location:

The Strategic location restricts entry into a larger important geographical deomain. Due
to the direct access to the Bay of Bengal to the other countries of the world, the strategic location
of Bangladesh is very important. Strategically World’s most important state is Afganistan.

On the basis of shapes of states:

 The shape of a state controls the length of its boundaries with other states.
 It is part of its unique identity (think Italy).
 Each shape displays distinctive characteristics and problems
6. Landlocked states

A landlocked state lacks a direct outlet to the sea because it is completely
surrounded by several other countries.
Landlocked states are most common in Africa (14).
Direct access to the ocean is critical because it facilitates international
trade. To send and receive goods by the sea, a landlocked state must
arrange to use another country’s seaport.
Depending on the relationship with other countries, this may not always be
possible.
Boundary

Definition
A political boundary is an imaginary line separating one political unit, such as a
country or state, from another. Sometimes these align with a natural geographic
feature like a river to form a border or barrier between nations.

Types of boundaries

A. Physical boundaries:
Physical features make suitable boundaries because they can be seen. There are
3 types of physical boundaries:
Mountain Boundaries – Are only effective if they’re difficult to cross. They
sometimes isolate nationalities on either side of the mountains.
Desert Boundaries – A boundary drawn in a desert can also effectively divide two
states. Like mountains, deserts are hard to cross and are sparsely inhabited.
Water boundaries – Rivers, lakes, and oceans are the physical features most
commonly used as physical boundaries. Water boundaries are visible on a map
and are relatively unchanging. They also offer good protection.

Fig: Physical Boundary

B. Cultural boundaries:
The boundaries between some states coincide with differences in ethnicity or can they be straight
lines.
Geometric Boundaries – These boundaries are usually fixed according to a line of
latitude. The US and Canada share a 1,300-mile border along 49º North latitude.
 Fig: Geometric Boundary

Religious Boundaries – Religious differences often coincide with boundaries

between states, but in only a few cases has the religion been used to set the
actual border. The best example is when Britain partitioned India due to the
predominantly Muslim areas in the west (present day Pakistan).

Fig: Religious Boundary

Language Boundaries – Language has been an important characteristic for
drawing boundaries, especially in Europe. France, England, Spain, Portugal,
Germany, and Italy all came together because of language.

Fig: Language Boundary

C. Other boundaries:
1. Boundaries inside state:
i. Unitary state

of government).
government creates other local, state, or provincial governments and
gives them limited sovereignty.

ii. Federal state

the state or provincial government.

Human Rights:

The term 'human rights' came into usage after the Second World War particularly with the founding
of the United Nations in 1945. It replaced the phrase natural rights because it became a matter of
great controversy and the later phrase the rights of man was not understood universally to include
the rights of women.

Human beings are rational beings. They by virtue of their being human possess certain basic, inhernt
and inalienable rights which are commonly known as human rights. Human rights are defined as all
those rights which are essential for the protection and maintenance of dignity of individual and

rights become operative with the birth of an individual. These are moral claims which are
inalienable and inherent in all individuals by virtue of their humanity alone, irrespective of caste, col
our, creed,
significance to human beings; human rights are also sometimes referred to as fundamental rights,
basic rights, inherent rights, natural rights
and birth rights. They are
not created by any
legislature through
legislation and are not
subjected to amendment.

Dr. Justice Durga Das Basu

“Human rights are those minimal rights, which every individual must have against the State, or
other public authority, by virtue of his being a ‘member of human family’ irrespective of any
consideration.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), 19
48,
“Rights derived from the inherent dignity of the human
person”

Section 2 (1) (d) of the protection of Human Rights Act

1993
defines "human rights" as-

"Human Rights are the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the indi
vidual
guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants and enforceable by Court
s in India
Objectives of Human Rights:

 To promote interdependence among countries in all areas of cooperation by identifying

country’s common strengths and opportunities which will help reduce poverty and

improve the quality of life for people whilst developing a knowledge-based society

within country and enhancing community and people empowerment;

 To expand the trade and financial market within country and increase the bargaining

power of Asian countries in lieu of competition and, in turn, enhances country’s’

economic competitiveness in the global market;

 To ultimately transform the continent into community, capable of interacting with the rest

of the world on a more equal footing and contributing more positively towards mutual

peace and prosperity.

Universal Declaration of Human rights:
Characteristics of Human Rights:
Classification of Human Rights:
Seven Substantive Rights:

Right to life:

 Right to life is the essential right that a human being has the right not to be killed by
another human being.
 The concept of right to life is central to debates on the issues of abortion, capital
punishment, euthanasia, self defence and war.
Freedom from torture:

 Torture has been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment

and coercion.

Freedom from slavery:

 No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be
prohibited in all their forms.

Right to a Fair- Trial:

 Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and
impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal
charge against him.

Freedom of Speech:

 Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship.

 The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously but includes any act of
seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used.

Freedom of thought, conscience and religion:

 Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes
freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with
others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice,
worship and observance.

Freedom of Movement


Definition of Colonsalism:

The word colonization is derived from the Latin word colonus (inhabitant), which means the
settlement of people and the establishment of settler colonies. It is a political phenomenon.
Colonialism is the process of a country taking full or partial political control of a dependent
country, territory, or people.

Frantz Fanon perceived colonialism as a form of domination whose necessary goal for success
was the reordering of the world of indigenous (“native”) peoples. He saw violence as the
defining characteristic of colonialism.

In essence, colonialism is an act of political and economic domination involving the control of a
country and its people by settlers from a foreign power. In most cases, the goal of the colonizing
countries is to profit by exploiting the human and economic resources of the countries they
colonized. In the process, the colonizers—sometimes forcibly—attempt to impose their religion,
language, cultural, and political practices on the indigenous population.

A few examples of countries generally considered to have been affected by colonialism during
their histories include America, Australia, New Zealand, Algeria, and Brazil—countries that
came to be controlled by a large number of settlers from European powers.

Motives of colonization:

In general strong countries dominated weaker ones to promote their own national self-intterest,
out of economic, religious, cultural or other reasons. It has been said that the three primary
motives for establishing colonies were gold, God and glory but the main incentives were usually
economic.

Economic motives:

 Desire to make money

 Expand and control foreign trade
 Create new markets for products
 Obtain raw materials and cheap labor

Political and Strategic motives:

 Nation’s desire to gain power.

 Expand territory and gain colonies 1.
 Compete with other European countries
  Use military force to demonstrate strength
 Increase national pride because of strength

Religious and Cultural motives:

 Desire to spread Christianity

 European countries also wanted to spread their religious beliefs and cultures that they
believed are superior to native ones.
 Spread European values and moral beliefs
 Educate people of other cultures
 End slave trade in Africa

Exploratory

 Desire to explore “unknown” territory

 Conduct scientific research
 Conduct medical searches for treatment of diseases
 Experience adventure and investigate “unknown” lands and cultures

Ideological (Based on cultural values and ideas)

1. White race was superior

2. Other cultures are “primitive”
3. Europeans should “civilize” peoples in other parts of world
4. Great nations should have empires
5. Social Darwinism
 Only the strongest nations will survive

Colonialism transformed into Imperialism

 political or economic control of a powerful country over another country or territory

 create “protectorates” – local rulers remain, but follow directives/rules of colonizer
 set up “spheres of influence” – area that powerful countries have exclusive control ove

Consequences of Colonalism:

 The implications of colonial rule on the colonies are considerable, and there was a
large impact on local economies, culture and political systems. The manner in
which decolonization took place also led to problems. Many geographers see a
colonial past as probably the most important initial condition for
underdevelopment.
 Deprivation of resources and exploitation of native labor force
 Africans imports were banned by the metropolitan powers of Europe, but they
flood the colonial market with cheap European goods to destroy the local
industries.
 Slavery is probably the worst legacy of colonialism. It is estimated that between
1601 and 1870, 15200000 left Africa.
 Racism the natives of the country were made to feel inferior.