FACULTY OF ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCE AND POLICY STUDIES

DIPLOMA IN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (AM110)

PAD120 INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE

TITLE/QUESTION: ASSIGNMENT 1

(Chapter 3: State,discuss 4 (Four functions of the state)

PREPARED BY:

AM110 (QAMP 2)

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PREPARED FOR:

CHAI SHIN YI

DATE OF SUBMISSION

19 DECEMBER 2O2O
PAD120 (QAMP2)

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION 3
FUNCTION OF THE STATE: 4-11
I) AGENT OF MODERNIZATION
II) LEGISLATE LAW
III) FRAMEWORK FOR SOCIAL
CONDUCT
IV) SENSE OF TOGETHERNESS
CONCLUSION 11
REFENCES 12

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INTRODUCTION

The central concern of political science is the State. It is a natural institution because it

is rooted in the reality of human nature. The state also a necessary institution because it

is the means through which people can meet their necessities of life and can strive for

good life.

According to Greek Philosophers Plato and Aristotle the state existed for the purpose of

seeking common good and moral perfection. To them the state is not a merely a

political association and served as religious community and a socializing agency.

Max Weber (1864 – 1920) defines the state is the product of class contradictions and

class struggle and is controlled by the economically dominant class. To Max Weber, the

state is a “human community that claims the monopoly of legitimate use of physical

violence in a given territory.”

Robert Alan Dahl (1915- 2014) influenced by Weber, viewed the state as a collection of

individuals occupying role positions (those of governing authority) and acting as a group

to govern.

Anthony Giddens defines a state as a political organization whose rule is territorially

ordered and which is able to mobilize the means of violence to sustain that rule.

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FUNCTION OF THE STATE

I) AGENT OF MODERNIZATION

There are four functions of the state. First, the aspect of the (I) Agent of Modernization.

It refers to ensemble of structural and cultural changes in the political system of

modernizing societies. It also comprises of all those activities, processes, institutions

and belief concerned with the making and authoritative policy and the pursuit and

attainment of collective goals.

However, agent of modernization also plays the roles which it planned with the

economics, social system, health and education. Agent of modernization also

introducing the new ways and technologies to use in the administrative system of the

state. In the case of Malaysia, there are few agencies able to make changes in the

modernizations. For example, in economic aspect they are under The Economic

Planning (EPU) is to formulate public policies with regard of economic planning of the

state which is their mission to manage the country’s socio-economic development in

strategic and sustainable manner. The EPU main function is to examine the annual

economic development programs and projects of state and the economic policy.

The modernization also happened when we have agencies like The Malaysian

Administrative Modernization and Management Planning Unit (MAMPU) to ensure the

public policy are implemented and executed according by the operational agency and

the smooth running of development programs and projects which their mission

spearheading public sector transformation to improve the citizens well-being and to

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strengthen the national competitiveness through innovative and strategic enhancement

of organizational management.

In reality, however the result of modernization in Malaysia is notwithstanding its aim.

although modernization generally results in the increase of wealth and prosperity but it

also can create tension and disorganization among the citizens of different classes.

II) LEGISLATE LAW

Second, the function of state (II) Legislate Laws. The laws enacted by the legislature

and by the bodies and by persons authorized by the legislature to be observed by the

people. It has the legal power to for the people to abide by these laws.

Enforcing the laws are very important in-order to for the public to develop well and to be

successful. These laws will guide the public to establish acceptable act of behaviors.

Without the laws, there will be disorder, violence, corruption, fraud and chaos as the

people would do whatever they want to do. That’s why enforcing the laws is very crucial.

Enforcing laws is to prevent the state from becoming lawless country where only the

strongest of the society would thrive. It also to prevent the public from becoming

vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.

The State provided national security and common defense in-order to preserve unity,

integrity and peace for example in Malaysia, The Royal Malaysia Police and Malaysian

Armed Forces. Those who dare to against or disobey the laws will be punished by the

state. In this case, the public need laws to live in group without conflict and according to

Philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1600) “without an authority to protect the people from one

and another, life was nasty, brutish and short” (Leviathan Ch. VI).
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In Malaysia, we have the law that protect each and everyone in the state of Malaysia.

For example, law to protect children or The Child Act 2001 (611) / Akta Kanak-Kanak

2001 (611). The Child Act is the country's legislation for the protection, care and

rehabilitation of children. This Act incorporates the core principles of non-discrimination,

best interests of the child, the right to life, survival and development as well as respect

for the views of the child.[11]. Other child-related legislation in Malaysia include the

Adoption Act 1952, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2007, Child Care Centres Act 1984,

Children and Young Persons (Employment) Act 1966; Domestic Violence Act 1994,

Education Act 1996 and the Islamic Family Law (Federal Territory) Act 1984 (“IFLA”)

[Act 303].[10] . These laws are public regulation and it is used to control human

behavior to ensure there is peace and harmony.

III) FRAMEWORK FOR SOCIAL CONDUCT

Third function of state is to provide a (III) Framework for Social Conduct. The State

need to come up with framework for social conduct in order to maintain peace and

harmony among people from various background, religion, races or culture and

understanding. People from various background, religion, races or culture and

understanding can stay together peace and harmoniously through the state’s own

traditions, culture and heritage that will be inherited from present generation to future

generation.

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To achieve harmonious environment, all conduct must conform to the law prescribed

where the public must obey the rules and laws of the state of the country. Laws is a

recognized casual link or principle whose violation should result in punishment.

By abiding the law, racism can be avoided and prevent so that stability and prosperity

can be achieved. For example, Malaysia is a multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religion

country which the people of Malaysia practice various religions. The fact that Malaysia

practices mixed religion makes it have a unique Malaysia culture. Even though Malaysia

is a multi-racial and multi-cultural country, there are still a few issues related to racism

and religion that had happened in the past, as well as in the present.

The purpose of people live together peacefully cannot be realized unless they are

properly organized and accept certain rules of conduct. Leaders ruling multi-racial and

multi-cultural states are aware of the problems created by their own.

The chances to maintaining democracy is hard to achieve due to the problem created

by the political leaders. For example in Malaysia, political leaders have used ethnic

identity as a political theme in their agenda for more than half a century, even more so

by and among Malay politicians (Noor,2009). It was a way for them to hold on to power.

During the Malaysian general election in 2018, a better inter-ethnic relationship is seen,

as evident to and resulting in the change of government. However, it was also due to

this that the ruling party at that time tried to use religious politics, fearing the masses

who were warming up to candidates of a different ethnicity than their own (J. C. H.

Lee, 2018)

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The interplay between race and religion in Malaysian society has been ongoing for

decades, discrimination based on race and religion are normal occurrences. It is difficult

to determine the actual statistics of day to day discriminations experienced by

Malaysians. The situation where not much is known quantitatively concerning

discrimination is not exclusive to only Malaysia but also to neighboring country. It is

important to provide framework to the people from various background, races, culture

and understanding to accept the cultures and belief of the others and also through the

doctrine of social conduct and the democracy practice in the state. At the same time,

the citizens are free to practice their own religion, tradition, culture and native language

without being discriminate and judge.

IV) SENSE OF TOGETHERNESS

The fourth and last function of the State is (IV) Sense of Togetherness. The people stay

together in a definite territory identifies themselves as citizen of a state. The sense of

togetherness makes them believe need one another. A state is formed to provide sense

of togetherness. According to AC Kapoor’s book ‘human are not self-sufficient animal,

humans need other people in order to live’. The forming of the state makes people safe,

secured and strong to be together. For example, Malaysia will be stronger nation if there

is greater sense of togetherness among the people, said Malaysia’s former Prime

Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during national-level Malaysia Day 2016 celebration at

the Bintulu Old Airport. - Bernama (2016, September 16) Najib: Greater sense of

togetherness will make country stronger. MalaysiaKini

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Sense of togetherness is very important to enhance the people well fare, safety and

social unity among the people in the state. It was very crucial for the people from

various background to work together to preserve unity of the nation to ensure prosperity

for all. It is impossible to develop the country if the people did not cooperate to work

together as a citizen of the country. The people need to work together through mutual

respect and understanding for the progress of the country. This sense of togetherness

gives the people the feeling of pride, loyalty and love to the state in terms of other words

this is the concept of nationalism.

In my opinion, it is impossible to understand the modern politics without understanding

the state function. It is state that are authoritarian or democratic and it is state function

that exhibit the institutional features. These features aim to influenced and control and

that social movements and revolution aim to transform. These 4 (Four) function of the

state are the keys factors in economic and social development, and they shaped the

experiences of the people, resident, and still other individuals. The state function is the

backbone structure of the modern politics.

However, the state function has limits to what it can do. The state function, as stated

above, though it universal and easy to implement yet it has limited agency. It limited by

the means at its disposal. It limited by the custom of the citizens in the state.

The function also limited by the fear of resistance and it is limited by the existence of

other associations in society which function cannot perform or undertake. According to

Robert Morrison MacIver (1882-1970) “It is needless and futile to concentrate in one

agency all the activities of life. Certain tasks the instrument can perform, but badly and

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clumsily - we do not sharpen our pencils with an axe. Other task it cannot perform at all

ad when it is directed upon them it only ruins the material.”

To Robert Morrison MacIver (1882-1970) there are certain functions which only state

can perform; others, which it is wholly incapable of performing and those which it can

with advantage perform and for which it can be well adapted.

As we refer back to the functions which the State should not undertake, Robert Morrison

MacIver (1882-1970) says, “The State should not seek to control public opinion, no

matter what the opinion may be,” provided there is “no incitement to break its laws or

defy its authority.” “The desire of law breaking is to attack the fundamental order, the

establishment of which is the first business of the state, and for preservation of which it

is endowed with coercive power.”

Lastly, in order to have peaceful and harmonious country the state should not interfere

with the culture and tradition. The state should not interfere with the culture and tradition

directly to prevent racial issues and chaos within the country. The state has no right to

and little power to interfere with the people culture and tradition or to destroy it, although

indirectly it influences culture and tradition by changing the conditions out of which

spring. If the culture and tradition being discriminate, this action will attack the law in

turn. The attacks not only the particular law which opposes it but what is more vital

importance is the law abidingness and the unity of the nation.

The state has even less much control over that minor and changeful form of culture and

tradition of the people. According to Robert Morrison MacIver (1882-1970) he stated “ A

people will follow eagerly the dictates of fashion proclaimed by some unknown coterie in
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Paris or London or New York, but were the state to decree changes in themselves so

insignificant, it would be regarded as monstrous tyranny: it might even lead to

revolution.”

However, the state also cannot create new culture because culture is the expression of

the spirit of a people or of an age. The culture is the work of the people from various

religion and background substained by inner forces far more potent than the political

laws. Art, literature and native music do not come directly within the purview of the

state. In these activities a civilization goes it own way, responsive to the influences and

conditions for the most uncomprehended and uncontrolled by the state itself.

CONCLUSION

The conclusion is the function of the state plays important role in-order to maintain

peace and harmony. It also fulfils the security and welfare needs of the people. The

state must control the external conditions of social living which are universal concern in

view of acknowledged objects of human desire. The people must abide the law in-order

to prevent social disorder, violence, corruption, fraud, chaos and racial issues. The

people also need to work together regardless of their background so that the country

economics and development grow smoothly in line with other developed countries.

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REFERENCES

T.Hobbes, Leviathan, C.B. Macpheson ed., (Harmondworth, England, UK: Penguin

Books, 1968), 161.

Max Weber, “Politics as a Vocation,” in H.H. Gerth and C. Wright Mills, eds., From Max

Weber (London, UK: Routledge and Kegan Pail, 1970), 78.

Robert Dahl, Who Governs? Democracy and Power in An American City (New Haven,

CT: Yale, University Press, 1961).

Anthony Giddens, The Nation-state and Violence, vol. 2 of A Contemporary Critique of

Historical Materialism (Cambridge, UK: Polity Press, 1985), 20

Abdul Rashid Moten, Syed Serajul Islam. 2011. Introduction to Political Science,

Singapore: Cengage (4th Ediition)

Robert Morrison MacIver, 1926. The Modern State, United Kingdom: Read Books Ltd.

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