Concept and Idea of the State

The concept of the State has received different treatment by different political thinkers. Some glorify it, some denigrate and reject it, some seek to restrict its role and functions and some make it central to the goal of public welfare. The Organic-Idealist school of thinkers (Plato, Aristotle, W. F. Hegel, T. H. Green, Bluntschli, etc.) glorified the State as if it had its own personality and objectives, like a living organism. The Marxists, the neo-Marxian thinkers and the anarchists rejected the State as an exploitative instrument. The liberals, the pluralists and the neo-liberals saw a very limited role for the State, as they gave priority to the rights of individuals and groups/associations. The utilitarians, the social democrats and the welfarists moderate the two extremes and assign a positive role to the State in terms of human and individual good.