UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY AND POLITICS

QUARTER 2- State and Non-state Institutions

State: it is a community of persons, more or less numerous, occupying a definite
portion of earth’s surface, having its own government, through which the inhabitants render
habitual obedience free from outside control.
From the definitions, we can derive the four elements of the state – people,
territory, government and sovereignty.
1. People or Population
It is important that a community of persons is composed of both males and females for
purposes of reproduction. Reproduction is indispensable. It is through reproduction that the state
can continue to exist.
2. Territory
The territory should be a fixed and bounded portion of the earth’s surface. Within it, are
natural resources that are vital for people to live. The inhabitants have the responsibility to
conserve and protect these resources. Furthermore, the people must be able to defend their state
from invaders and doing so, the use of force may be justified.
3. Government
In order to maintain an organized state, there should be a government. The government
is that body where people, through their representatives, can express their desire. This is
where that laws to be implemented in the country are enacted. Since it is believed that the
government should be established by the people themselves, through the Constitution that
they will promulgate, it is but logical for them to bestow their obedience to it. The people
should follow the laws and respect authority.
There are three branches of Government:
1. Legislative which formulate the will of the state i.e. performs law- making
functions;
2. Executive enforces and implements the laws i.e. performs the law- application
functions; and
3. Judiciary which applies the laws to specific cases and settles the disputes i.e.
performs adjudication functions.
4. Sovereignty
It refers to the supreme power of the state to rule itself without interference from other
state. This means that the state is an independent entity where people enjoy freedom. A
territory is not a state if it is not independent.

As the supreme power of the State, Sovereignty has two dimensions:

1. 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. All these institutions always
act in accordance with the laws of the State. The State can punish them for every violation
of any of its laws.
2. 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. Each
state has the sovereign power to formulate and act on the basis of its independent foreign
policy.

The table below are the theories that would explain the origin of the state.
 Origin Description
 It holds that the state was created by God for the people.
 The State its advocates maintain was Created by God and
governed by His deputy or vicegerent.
 He (God) sent His deputy to rule over them.
Divine
 The ruler was divinely appointed agent and he was responsible for
Theory
his actions to God alone.
 As the ruler was the deputy of God, obedience to him was held to
be religious duty and resistance a sin.
 To complain against the authority of the ruler and characterize his
actions as unjust was a sin for which there was divine
punishment.
 The people have agreed to established the state to their common
benefit.
Social  It postulates a state of nature as the original condition’s
Contract mankind and a social contract.
Theory  The state of nature was not an organized society.
 Each man living therein led a life of his own, uncontrolled by
any laws of human imposition.
 It was established through the use of force in order for people to
follow.
 Emphasizes the origin of the State in subornation of the weak to
the strong.
Force  A person physically stronger than captured and enslaved the weak.
Theory  Having increased the number of his followers, over whom he
exercised undisputed authority, he became a tribal chief.
 The powerful conquered the weak this process of conquest and
domination continued till the victorious tribe secured control over a
definite territory.

SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Functions of State

 It maintains law, order and stability, resolves various kinds of disputes through the
legal system;
 It provides common defense;
 Looks out for the welfare of the population in ways that are beyond the means of the
individual, such as implementing public health measures;
 Provide mass education and underwrites expensive medical research and;
And it operates in the interests of various dominant groups, such as economic
classes and racial and ethnic groups.

Non-state Institutions
 These are institutions which are not owned and controlled by the government. Some
non-state institutions are either for profit or non-profit and some are for personal
investments and financial assistance.

Functions of Non-State Institutions

 provide a safe place to save excess cash, known as deposits;
 cooperatives and trade unions are non-state institutions play a major role
in the economic development of the society; and
 legal entitles which are established under the state of law that are
designed to generate a profit.

Forms of Non-state Institutions

A. Banks and Corporations

A bank is a financial institution which deals with deposits and advances and other
related services. It receives money from those who want to save in the form of deposits and
it lends money to those who need.
According to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas the top 3 banks in the Philippines as of
December 31, 2019 are:
1. BDO UNIBANK INC
BDO Unibank Inc. is the largest of the banks in the Philippines in terms of assets.
The full-service universal bank also takes the lead in consolidated resources, deposits,
customer loans, and branch and ATM network all over the country.
2. METROPOLITAN BANK & TCO
Metropolitan Bank & Trust Company, or Metrobank, is one of the premier financial
institutions in the country. It currently offers a wide range of banking products and services all
over the world, with its network of more than 2,300 ATMs, 950 local branches, 32 foreign
branches, and representative offices.
3. LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES
The government-owned Land Bank of the Philippines is considered the largest
formal credit institution in the rural areas. It is also one of the top commercial banks in the
Philippines in terms of assets, loans, and deposits.
There are three main functions of banks:
1. Banks are depository of savings.
2. Banks are largely responsible for the payments system.
3. Banks issue loans to both people and companies.
A corporation is a company or group of people authorized to act as single entity and
recognized as such in law. Early incorporated entities were established by charter. Most
jurisdictions now allow the creation of new corporations through registration.

B. Cooperatives and Trade Unions

Cooperative is firm owned, controlled, and operated by a group of users for their
own benefits. Each member contributes equity capital, and shares in the control of the firm
in the basis of one-member one-vote.
It is an autonomous association of persons united voluntary to meet their common
economic, social, and cultural needs and aspirations through a jointly- owned and
democratically-controlled enterprise.
A trade union is an organization made up of member (a member-based
organization) and its membership must be made up mainly of workers. The main purpose is
to protect and advance the interest of its members in the workplace.

C. Transnational Advocacy Groups

Advocacy and advocacy groups represent a wide range of categories and support
several issues listed on worldadvocacy.com. The Advocacy Institute, a US- based global
organization, for example, is dedicated to strengthening the capacity of political, social and
economic justice advocates to influence and change public policy.
Who participates in transnational advocacy groups? There is no single list, but the
major actors often include:
1. National and International nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
2. Local social movements
3. Foundations
 4. The media
5. Religious organizations, trade unions and consumer organizations
6. Intellectual and scholars
7. Agencies within international and regional intergovernmental
organizations
8. Parts of executive or parliamentary branches of government

D. Development Agencies
The most influential groups of non-state institutions. These are organizations which provide
development assistance between national and international institutions. Usually, these are the
links that bind different states together.
The following are some of the development agencies under UN:
1. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
2. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
3. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

E. Non-governmental Organization (NGOS)

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a not-for-profit organization that is
independent from states and international governmental organizations. They are usually funded
by donations but some avoid formal funding altogether and run funded and are run primarily by
volunteers. Examples of NGOs include those that support human rights, advocate for improved
health or encourage political participation.
Roles of Non-Governmental Organization

1. Development and Operation of Infrastructure

2. Supporting Innovation, Demonstration and Pilots Projects
3. Facilitating Communication
4. Technical Assistance and Training
5. Research Monitoring and Evaluation
6. Advocacy for and with the Poor
F. Non-governmental Organization (NGOS)

A non-governmental organization (NGO) is a not-for-profit organization that is

independent from states and international governmental organizations. They are usually
funded by donations but some avoid formal funding altogether and run funded and are run
primarily by volunteers. Examples of NGOs include those that support human rights,
advocate for improved health or encourage political participation.

Community-based organizations (CBOs) and cooperatives can acquire, subdivide

and develop land construct housing, provide infrastructure, operate and maintain
infrastructure such as well or public toilets and solid waste collection services.