In this article you will learn about the Difference Between State and Association in Political Science.
State and Association
Several writers define State as an association of associations. State is an association which acts through laws as promoted by a government endowed to this end with coercive power, maintains order within a community territorially demarcated. However, we have to realise the difference between State and Association, as State is an association of a different kind.
An association is a group of individuals, who are organised to achieve a particular objective. It is a group of men who attempt to accomplish certain aims or objectives through mutual cooperation and by following rules. Each association has a group of people, voluntary membership, shared and common interests or needs as the basis, some set objective goals which are to be achieved collectively by all the members, a voluntary organisation, and cooperation among the members objectives pooled resources for funds needed for action.
Associations are of several kinds like labour, trade, government, employees, etc. Trade unions, chambers of commerce are all economic associations. Every political party is also a political association. The Arya Samaj, Sanatan Dharm Sabha, Singh Sabha, Jain Sabha and the like are all religious associations. A literary society, a sangeet sabha, a dramatic society are all cultural associations. Lion clubs, Rotary clubs and similar other organisations are social service associations of the people.
Difference Between State and Associations
1. State is the Sovereign Community of the people, Associations are Non-sovereign organisations : The State possesses sovereignty, it can secure, by force, the compliance of its citizens towards its directions and order. All the people and groups living in the territory of a State accept the sovereignty of the State and obey its order. The one who refuses to do so is punished by the State. The State has police and the Judiciary is for this purpose. An association has no power as such to get its orders complied with. An association cannot use force against its members and if any member disobeys the rules of association, it cannot punish him. At most, the defaulting member can get its membership revoked of the association.
2. The State has wider objectives and an Association has narrow goals : The State has wider objectives while an Association has limited and narrow objectives. The State maintains peace and order and along with it it tries to promote social, economic, moral and cultural welfare of its entire people. It is a welfare state and the scope of its functions is very vast. As against it, every association is organised to serve a limited set of objectives and goals. The field of activity of each association is limited and it is concerned only with the promotion of interest of its members. For example, a religious association performs only religious functions and cares little for developing the political or economic interests.
3. Membership of the State is compulsory but Association is compulsory : The membership of the state is compulsory. It does not depend upon the will of a person. By birth every human becomes a member of one state or another and remains so throughout his entire life. He has to be a member of another state if he ceases to be of one.
4. The State can impose taxes and not an Association : The State requires finances to run its administrations and also to accomplish public welfare works. It levies more taxes on the rich and less on the poor. No person can refuse to pay the taxes levied by the State and if any person fails to do so, it can use force to collect the money. An association requires money to fulfil its objectives but it cannot levy a tax for the purpose. It can only collect membership or voluntary fees. If a person refuses to pay his membership fee, he cannot be forced.
5. One person can become a member citizens of only one State and several different Associations : An individual can become a member of one State at one time only and he mostly acquires this membership by birth. He cannot become a member of more than one State at one time. For instance, no person can be a citizen of India, China, Pakistan, Britain, USA or France at the same time. But, an individual can become a member of as many associations as he deems fit for his development.
6. State is essentially a territorial organisation but an Association may or may not be territorial : Territory is an important element of every State. State works within a fixed territory. While the State is the sovereign institution of all the citizens, an association is a voluntarily organised non-sovereign institution which always remains and works under the laws of the state. Territory is not important for an association because associations are mostly non-territorial. It can work within a limited territory or it may work at the international level for all the people of the world.
7. Only one State but many Association in one defined territory : Only one State is present within a definite territory. We cannot conceive of two States within one territory when a territory gets digitally divided in two parts, two different states come into existence. On the other hand, we can establish several associations in one territory.
8. The State is permanent and Associations are temporary : The state is always permanent whereas Associations always come and go. The main element of the state is its permanence. The objectives which each state seeks to fulfil are unlimited. Associations are formed for the fulfilment of some particular objectives. They may be dissolved later. And they are often temporary.
9. The State is Superior to all Associations : The State is Superior to all Associations because it has sovereignty. Association always functions under the state and gets organised under the laws of the state. The State keeps an eye on the functioning of all Associations. It can control and regulate the functioning of every association. The State has the power to ban any association, organisation which is considered harmful or dangerous for the interests of the State.
This article on Difference Between State and Association in Political Science is contributed by Dipshikha Anand. If you like LawStudyPoint.com do follow us on our Twitter handle.