Which of the following statement/s explain the relationship between the State and Society? Statements:
(A) State is politically organized society.
(B) Both State and Society can legitimately use force.
(C) Society and State have the same moral purpose.

Question

Which of the following statement/s explain the relationship between the State and Society? Statements: 
(A) State is politically organized society. 
(B) Both State and Society can legitimately use force. 
(C) Society and State have the same moral purpose.

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 4:

The correct option is 4, which includes statements (A) State is politically organized society and (C) Society and State have the same moral purpose. This option correctly reflects the foundational philosophical understanding of the State-Society relationship. **Statement (A)** is correct because the State is universally defined in Political Science as a segment of society that has achieved political organization, primarily through the establishment of government, laws, and the essential attribute of sovereignty. Society is a much broader concept, encompassing all voluntary associations, customs, traditions, and spontaneous relationships among individuals. When society develops a supreme authoritative institution to govern itself, resolve conflicts, and maintain order, it becomes a state—the politically organized aspect of human social life. **Statement (C)** is also generally accepted in idealist and modern political thought. While the State focuses on legal and coercive order, and society focuses on voluntary interactions, both institutions ultimately serve the same fundamental moral purpose: the promotion of the common good, welfare, development, and a moral life for their members. The state provides the necessary legal framework and security for society to pursue its moral and ethical goals, ensuring that their highest collective ends converge, making this statement conceptually valid within mainstream political theory.

The incorrect option is 1:
Option 1, "Only A," is incorrect because it overlooks the convergence of purpose between the State and Society, as established in statement (C). While statement (A) is a core definition (State = politically organized society), the most complete explanation of their relationship must also acknowledge the philosophical link between their objectives. Limiting the correct explanation to only the structural definition (A) fails to capture the normative dimension—the shared moral pursuit of collective welfare, which makes the combined set of A and C a more comprehensive answer.

The incorrect option is 2:
Option 2, "A and B," is incorrect because statement (B)—Both State and Society can legitimately use force—is false according to the core tenets of modern political theory. A defining feature of the State is its *monopoly over the legitimate use of physical force* within a given territory, as famously articulated by sociologist Max Weber. While society uses various forms of social coercion (e.g., ostracism, boycotts, moral pressure), it does not possess the legitimate authority to wield physical force or military power. If society's groups could legitimately use force, the State would cease to exist as the supreme sovereign authority, leading to anarchy. Therefore, because statement (B) contradicts the established meaning of state sovereignty, this option cannot be correct.

The incorrect option is 3:
Option 3, "B and C," is incorrect because it contains the flawed statement (B) and excludes the fundamental definition provided by statement (A). As explained, statement (B) is incorrect because only the State possesses the legitimate monopoly of coercion, not society as a whole or its various non-state institutions. Furthermore, ignoring statement (A)—that the state is a politically organized society—omits the most crucial structural distinction and relationship between the two entities, making the selection of B and C an incomplete and factually incorrect explanation.