The state has become an omnipotent force in recent times. Progressively, the range of the state’s functions has been widening, and its involvement has become deeper and deeper in practically each of its functions. The ancient and well recognized function of the state relating to the prevention, investigation, detection and punishment of crime has acquired complex economic, commercial and electronic dimensions because -- indeed-crime has. Further, there are no signs whatsoever of the state’s withering away. Present day governments are becoming increasingly important to people in many ways, some of them obvious and some not very obvious. Notwithstanding the persistent opposition of many ideologues and politicians, not to speak of that of much common citizenry as well, the state has gone on to becoming the towering structure it is today-for good or for ill.
Prima facie, it seems clear that man, society and the state constitute a integral organization, not part of which is separable from the rest without serious damage (in form, structure or content) to the part itself and/or to the rest of the integral. |
