Conditions of France at the time of World War 11 and Meritorious Services of Charles André Joseph Marie de Gaulle.

Functions, Responsibilities of Welfare State in Modern Era 

Before describing the functions, responsibilities of the state, it is essential to describe the state within which functions & responsibilities have been performed since time immemorial.  The state developed from one family to the present level of more than 1.4 billion people in China and the Largest state of Russia in terms of area. The state has witnessed transformative stages and reached its present zenith. In simple words, the state that is the mother of all is described as a conglomeration of humans within a demarcated, accepted territory and consolidated into one unit. Monitored by legally recognized government & Covered by laws having independence and sovereignty politically, legally, economically and morally empowered to monitor and regulate within its demarcated boundaries and authorized of conducting national and international relations with other states of the global community on equal terms. In other words, State is a conglomeration of area, population, Government, Sovereignty, and Recognition by the global community. The state comprises of three organs Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary through which it performs its responsibilities.  

The state is a human institution and cannot exist without indispensable elements of land and people. The state machinery or government is essential to implement and execute the promulgated laws of land, formulate policies, and regulate internal and external affairs. Sovereignty is the most imperative element of a state without it states to have no legal authority and cannot execute their laws or conduct internal or external affairs. It represents the supremacy of the state overall within and outside the state. Following the establishment of the United Nations International recognition from the comity of the nation has become mandatory and essential. International recognition bound a state to observe international obligations, maintain amicable relations with other countries of the globe, and play its due role in world politics.

The functions can be classified into primary and secondary.

1. Preservation and Protection of Territorial Integrity and Ideological Frontiers.

The prime & essential function of the state is to protect the territorial integrity of country in order to preserve its existence against internal and external dangers. These Functions are sin-qua-non for the existence and security of the state. Every state adopts national and foreign policy policies to protect the territorial boundaries and ideological frontiers. Woodrow Wilson former President of the USA termed this function as Fundamental or Ministrant-Optional functions.

2. Preservation and Maintenance of law and order.

The other Function of the state is to enforce and maintain peace and order within the boundaries of the state to provide a peaceful and orderly atmosphere so that people can rise to the full stature of their personalities. This is the function of the Executive organ of State or enforcement function, for which the state maintains a trained bureaucracy, police force, courts, and other essential elements. The state is the custodian of the people and protects it from enemies within and outside of the state. The main function of the state is to create favorable political, social, and economic conditions within the country by maintaining law and order and preventing breaches of laws. The deteriorated law and order situation in the country adversely affects its social, political, and economic fabric. Peaceful conditions will attract investment in all sectors of the economy. The state without proper law & order is like a State of Jungle in which everybody is free to trample the rights and liberty of others thus creating anarchy. The state implements the decision of the judiciary.

3. Administration of justice.  Enforcement of justice in a state is the primary & important function of the state.  Provision of justice is a primary duty of the state to maintain social cohesion, political stability, and equitable economic order and provide conditions necessary for fair play and equity & development of human faculties. For the administration and maintenance of justice, an independent organ of the judiciary is established in the state. Judiciary is the third important organ of the state. The judiciary safeguards fundamental rights and liberties. The judiciary provides free and prompt justice to the people so that anarchy may not prevail. According to George Washington, the administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government.  Without the provision of free and prompt justice, a state can not be called civilized and does not command respect in the comity of Nation. The state safeguards this through the promulgated constitution of the state.

4. Conduct of Foreign Affairs. The current era is an age of internationalism in which all states have contracted different types of mutual agreements, contracts, and pacts with one another states. The current era is an age of a mixture of Conflict and Cooperation. Foreign relations with other states are conducted for international intercourse, diplomacy, alliances, and economic engagements. It is an important function of the State to chalk out an acceptable foreign policy that not only secures its vital strategic and economic interests but is also conducive to the preservation of international peace and security in the world. All states are expected to abide by the cannons of international law and cooperate with the UN system. A state while formulating and implementing its foreign policy cannot and does not afford to ignore the rules of International law, political systems of other states, and canons of international morality. Foreign policy is the face of a state. FP is part of national policy that consists of multiple goals and vital interests that are to be secured economically, politically, socially and militarily. State conduct Foreign policies to help protect the country's national interests, national security, ideological frontiers, and economic prosperity. This can occur through peaceful coexistence and cooperation with other nations in all vital fields that affect national and international citizens.

5. Economic planning.

Economic planning means the direction of productive activity and initiation, control, and regulation of economic activity by the state with a view to achieving a well-defined objective. The state undertakes many constructive plans and pro-poor projects whose benefits will be shared by the future generations. The state develops national economy by planning and building agricultural sector, industrial development and scientific research and technological advancement. State explores the available resources, utilize and conserve its resources full employment and production. Only a healthy economy and prosperous economy can fulfill the task of economic development. The state works to enhance the living standard of its people by developing soft sectors of economy. The state has to maintain amicable economic relations with countries having different ideologies and economic system to achieve vital economic interests. States formulates economic planning aims at achieving economic prosperity, political stability and social cohesion.  It is usually the keen desire of each state to establish, strengthen and widen its economic ties with other states by avoiding conflicts. In the absence of a sound economy, a state is vulnerable to foreign intervention.

6. Provision of Socioeconomic opportunities and Social security. Socio-economic opportunities are meant to promote the intellectual, moral, social, economic and cultural well-being and welfare of the people. It is the function or prime responsibility of state to provide basic and essential opportunities for its people. The state takes steps to abolish illiteracy, alleviate poverty, reduce unemployment and spread prosperity and prevent catastrophes like today’s coronavirus catastrophe. The first and foremost function of the state is to endeavour and provide social services to free the unprivileged classes from the fear of want and social misery, like poverty, hunger, unemployment, disease, illiteracy, and fear from being subjugated by other states. In other words, State has to protect the weak and enable people to achieve the fullest development of their inner and outer faculties of life. It is the Function of state to strive to accomplish the material needs of its people regardless of race, creed, color and religion by providing equitable conditions and opportunities. It is the duty of state not only to harness modern resources of science, industry, and technology by proper use of manpower and natural resources but also to distribute it equitably to achieve harmony and prosperity. State laid the foundation that took its inhabitants to the highest point of political, social, economic and technological advancement. State performs ethical function to maintain a virtuous life, in the absence of which a civilized way of life is not possible. State through its laws protects ethical and moral values of the people and eradicates social ills and vices.

7. Technological and Military strength.

Besides all the preceding factors, the military strength of a country also determines the effectiveness of its economic and foreign policy. Military strength of a country is linked to its resourcefulness, preservation of political system and economic sovereignty. It is the prime duty of a state to possess sufficient technologically advanced military strength, which accords greater bargaining power in the international arena. The states try to improve military superiority in a number of ways, such as nuclear tests, mobilization of army, periodical display of military forces, innovation of technological devices and techniques to impress their adversary in international Politics. By dint of the technological advancement USA, Russia China has assumed the status of global powers. The members of OIC country could not performed the functions of state and failed to attain progress in technological field. They are lying prostrate at the whims of big powers despite abundant natural resources. Technological and militarily advanced state’s foreign policy is more effective and exercises profound influence than all other countries of world.

8. Promotion of Soft Sector i-e health and education. Regulation of trade and industry.

Importance of sound education and good health for a civilized life is universally recognized. It is the prime responsibility of State to promote and expand free and modern innovative technological education to create civic virtue and political consciousness and economic prosperity among the masses. It is the primary Function of state to regulate the system of free compulsory education and provide health, potable water, and sanitation and housing facilities. A state equipped with good educational system can compete in this global world. A state-regulated system of education could best create the spirit of devotion and excellence in performing of public duty. It is the function of State to promote justice and prevent immoral unlawful activities by a sound system of education, which expand knowledge and deepen wisdom and development of full-fledged inner and outer faculties of people and creates harmony between individual and state. 

9. Regulation of trade and industry. State develops industry to enhance production and creates income opportunities for people. It is the main responsibility of state to promote industrialization and attracts foreign and domestic investment. International trade refers to the relations among the countries of the world through imports and exports. The historical facts reveal that all the developed countries of the world broke the vicious circle of underdevelopment by industrialization and enhancing international trade. Indeed the state can achieve its supreme ends of protection, conservation, and development only when it performs these functions in a proper way. Govt should act to create a secure environment where life, property, liberty and socio-economic rights of the citizens are protected. Sustained growth and development does not take place in an environment, which is not characterized by the supremacy of law. CSS PCS Academy Sukkur. Professor Dr Qayum Mangi