Maharashtra Board Class 11 Political Science Important Questions Chapter 1 The State

Balbharti Maharashtra State Board Class 11 Political Science Important Questions Chapter 1 The State Important Questions and Answers.

Maharashtra State Board 11th Political Science Important Questions Chapter 1 The State

1A. Choose the appropriate alternative and complete the following statements.

Questions 1.
___________ is the agency of the state through which its will is formulated, expressed, and realized. (Jurisdiction, Government, Sovereignty, Legitimacy)
Answer:
Government

Question 2.
The principle of ‘self-determination of nations’ was advocated by ___________ (Woodrow Wilson, Pandit Nehru, Aristotle, Jean Bodin)
Answer:
Woodrow Wilson

Question 3.
___________ type of nationalism is reflected in liberation struggles. (Aggressive, Regressive, Progressive, Expansionist)
Answer:
Progressive

1B. Identify the incorrect pair in every set, correct it and rewrite.

Question 1.
(a) Liberal Nationalism – French Revolution
(b) Expansionist Nationalism – British Imperialism
(c) Anticolonial Nationalism – Indian Freedom Struggle
(d) Conservative Nationalism – Anti-Apartheid Struggle
Answer:
(d) Conservative Nationalism – Israeli Nationalism.

1C. State the appropriate concept for the given statements.

Question 1.
A politically organized society within a definite territory.
Answer:
State

Question 2.
A spirit of a common consciousness that binds a community together.
Answer:
Nationalism

Question 3.
The right of a section of people having unity to decide what type of government they prefer.
Answer:
Self-determination

Question 4.
Type of nationalism that promotes imperialism and colonialism.
Answer:
Expansionist Nationalism

Question 5.
A people organized for law within a definite territory.
Answer:
State

Question 6.
Authority of the government to take decisions in the public interest.
Answer:
Legitimacy

1D. Answer in one sentence only.

Question 1.
Name the four elements of a State.
Answer:
The four elements of a State are population, territory, government, and sovereignty.

Question 2.
Name the three organs of a government.
Answer:
The three organs of a government are Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary.

Question 3.
When does a ‘nation’ become a state?
Answer:
A ‘nation’ becomes a state when it has a specific territory, population, sovereignty, and an independent government.

Question 4.
What does the territory of a state include?
Answer:
Territory includes land area, the airspace over it, and the territorial waters along the coastline.

Question 5.
Name some nationalities that were part of the Soviet Union.
Answer:
Russian, Ukrainian, Latvian, and Estonian.

Question 6.
Write some factors that promote nationalism.
Answer:
Some factors that promote nationalism are common race, religion, language, etc.

Question 7.
What is the main premise of liberal nationalism?
Answer:
The main premise of liberal nationalism is that every nation has the right to freedom and self-determination.

Question 8.
What does ‘nationalism’ refer to?
Answer:
Nationalism is a force that holds the people to a sense of political loyalty to the country.

1E. Complete the following sentences by using the appropriate reasons.

Question 1.
In political terms, Maharashtra cannot be called a State because
(a) it lacks a stable government.
(b) it is under the control of the Union Government.
(c) it is a State within Indian territory but not a Sovereign unit.
Answer:
(c) it is a State within Indian territory but not a Sovereign unit.

Question 2.
After the First World War, liberal nationalism was noticed in many countries because
(a) the collapse of many empires led to demand for self-determination.
(b) these countries became colonial.
(c) these nations did not want another World War to happen.
Answer:
(a) the collapse of many empires led to a demand for self-determination.

1F. Find the odd word in the given set.

Question 1.
Executive, Legislature, Judiciary, Nation-State.
Answer:
Nation-State (not an organ of government)

Question 2.
Palestine, Sri Lanka, Canada, Israel.
Answer:
Palestine (not a State)

Question 3.
Population, Territory, Community, Sovereignty.
Answer:
Community (not an element of State)

2A. State whether the following statements are true or false with reasons.

Question 1.
Powers of the government are delegated.
Answer:
This statement is True.

• The government is the agency through which the will of the State is formulated and expressed.
• Thus the government is an element of the state and only has powers given to it by the state.

Question 2.
India is a member of the SAARC. Hence, it is not sovereign.
Answer:
This statement is False.

• India has voluntarily accepted membership of the SAARC – a regional organization.
• This membership in no way encroaches on any aspect of India’s sovereignty.

Question 3.
Nomadic tribes cannot be called a state.
Answer:
This statement is True.

• The four elements of a State are population, territory, government, and sovereignty.
• Nomadic tribes do not possess a fixed geographical area (territory) so they cannot be called a State.

Question 4.
India becomes a state in 1950.
Answer:
This statement is True.

• India becomes politically independent in 1947 but become a sovereign state only on 26th January 1950.
• This was when the Constitution came into force and India declared itself as the Sovereign Democratic Republic.

2B. Complete the concept maps.

Question 1.

Answer:

Question 2.

Answer:

3A. Explain the correlation between the following.

Question 1.
State – Government.
Answer:
The terms State and Government are often used interchangeably. However, they are different concepts. The state is a political organization. Government is an agency of the State through which the will of the State is formulated, expressed, and realized.

Government is the main wing of the state. Its main nature is administrative. Law and order, welfare, etc. are some of the main functions of the State. These functions are performed through the government organs such as the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary.

Powers of the government are delegated. The state is a universal, permanent institution while the Government exists in different forms for a specific period. All persons within its territory are members of the State while the number of members in the government is limited.

3B. Express your opinion of the following.

Question 1.
Nationalism is a potent force that can either unite or destroy.
Answer:
I agree with this statement.

Nationalism refers to a spirit of psychological oneness or common consciousness that binds a community together. It is an expression of emotionality.

There are many factors that promote nationalism such as culture and language, common race, religion, geographical area, history, and political aspirations. Many times, these very factors may also lead to problems among the people and hence be destructive. Indian nationalism united the people in their struggle for liberation from British colonialism. However, religious diversity and the ‘Two Nation Theory’ put forth by the Muslim League led to the partition and creation of India and West and East Pakistan in 1947.

Although religion was a unifying factor in the national spirit of Pakistan, it wasn’t enough to sustain national integration. East and West Pakistan were separated by the landmass of India and because of linguistic, cultural, and historical differences, the common consciousness dimmed. East Pakistan demanded political independence and in 1971, the State of Bangladesh was formed. Progressive nationalism can help national integration and development while aggressive nationalism is destructive in nature.

4. Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
What are the features of a Nation?
Answer:
The word ‘nation’ is derived from the Latin word ‘Nasci’ meaning ‘to be born’. Thus, the literal meaning of a nation is a people having a common race /ethnicity or cultural linkages. Earnest Barker defines a nation as a body of men, inhabiting a definite territory, who normally are drawn from different races but possess a common stock of thoughts and feelings acquired and transmitted during the course of common history.

A nation refers to a large group of people, united in common bonds of geography, race, history, religion, language, sharing common objectives.

Features of a Nation:

• Population: A nation must have a population that has a sense of ethnic, historical, and cultural oneness.
• Feeling of community: The emotional dimension of a nation is a perception held by the population of psychological oneness i.e., they are a community.
• Desire to be politically separate: A feeling of unity and of being a nation is a product of the urge for ‘self-determination’. This can lead to a demand for self-governance. This signifies that people who feel united should have the right to decide the type of government that they prefer.

Question 2.
What is Nationalism? Explain its types.
Answer:
Nationalism is a force that binds the people to a sense of integrity and loyalty to their country. It is a spirit of oneness or common consciousness that binds a community together. Nationalism is a sense of political identity and emotional attachment to one’s ‘homeland’.
The forms of Nationalism from a political perspective are:

• Liberal Nationalism: Its origins are in the ideals of the French Revolution. President Woodrow Wilson linked the concept of a nation to the right to self-determination and sovereignty.
• Conservative Nationalism: It views a nation as a closely linked society with great importance to patriotism and the concept of ‘motherland’.
• Expansionist Nationalism: It is aggressive nationalism, which leads to imperialism, conquest, and colonialism. It has been seen in European imperialism by countries like England, Italy, Spain, France, etc.
• Anticolonial Nationalism: It refers to liberation struggles for independence from colonial rule, e.g., Indonesian freedom struggle from Dutch colonial rule.

5. Answer the following question in detail with reference to the given points.

Question 1.
Explain the following elements of the State.
(i) Sovereignty
(iii) Government
(iii) Population
(iv) Territory
Answer:
(i) Sovereignty: It signifies the supreme power of the State internally as well as externally. It means an independent nation with its own constitution.

(ii) Government: This refers to the agency through which the will of the state is expressed. Modern governments have three organs viz. legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government must be independent. Institutions of the State are ‘public’ institutions and have the legitimacy to act on behalf of the State. These institutions are responsible for making and implementing laws to promote the general welfare of the people. There are various kinds of government based on their creation or style of function for e.g., democracy or dictatorship, republic or monarchy, presidential or parliamentary system, etc.

(iii) Population: A State is an association of human beings. The progress of a State depends on the quality of the population. Some states viz. China, India, etc., have a large population while some States have a small population viz. Monaco, Belgium, etc. The population may be homogeneous e.g., Israel, or diverse e.g. erstwhile USSR comprised of many nationalities like Russians, Ukrainians, Latvians, etc. Thus a ‘State’ may comprise of many ‘nations’.

(iv) Territory: A State is recognized by its territory. This includes the land area within its boundaries, the airspace above the area, and surrounding territorial waters (up to 12 nautical miles). The area within which the State has the authority to govern is called its jurisdiction. Some states have a small territory e.g., Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, etc., while other States e.g., Brazil, Russia, India, and Australia have a large territory. Most States have compact territory e.g., India, while some states which exist as islands have scattered territory e.g., Indonesia.

6. Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
How does nationalism discourage imperialism?
Answer:
Nationalism discourages imperialism and colonialism. The resistance to any form of external occupation is one of the features of nationalism. National liberation struggles or freedom struggles across the world are a product of nationalism. It thus encourages self-determination e.g., India’s struggle for freedom from European colonialism.

Question 2.
Explain ‘legitimacy of government’.
Answer:
All citizens are members of the State. Decisions are taken in the public interest by the government of the State. This authority of the State to make decisions is called legitimacy. The State has the legitimacy to take decisions in the interest of the people.

Question 3.
Explain the ‘jurisdiction’ of a State.
Answer:
The area of the State within which it has the authority to govern is called its jurisdiction. Thus, Jurisdiction is the legal power that the State has to take decisions.

Question 4.
Describe the ‘territory’ of a State.
Answer:
The territory is an essential element of a State. It includes

• The actual land within the national boundaries.
• The territorial waters along the coastline. This is up to 12 nautical miles (22.2 km or 13.8 miles) along the coastline.
• The air space above its territory (there is no international law on the height of this air space.)

Question 5.
What is a multinational state?
Answer:
States may comprise of many ‘nationalities’ living together. For example, the Soviet Union had people of many nationalities like Russians, Lithuanians, Latvians, Estonians, Ukrainians, etc. Similarly, the United Kingdom consists of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Question 6.
Do state and nation convey the same meaning?
Answer:
The terms ‘state’ and ‘nation’ appear to have the same meaning and are often used interchangeably, However, technically there is a difference. A nation has a sense of ‘oneness’ that is psychological and is born out of commonness of ethnicity and race, culture and history, religion, language, etc. The State is a politically organized society within a definite territory. It is used to describe a sovereign country having an independent government in a specific territory.

Question 7.
Write about President Wilson’s Fourteen Point speech.
Answer:
The Fourteen Point put forward by President Woodrow Wilson of the USA was a statement of principles for peace outlined in a speech on January 8, 1918. It aids an outline for stable, long-lasting peace in Europe, the Americas, and the rest of the world, following the First World War. It also visioned ‘self-determination of nations.

7. Distinguish between.

Question 1.
State and Government
Answer:

State	Government
(i) State is an abstract concept.	(i) Government is a concrete reality.
(ii) State is more extensive than a government. It includes all public institutions and all members of the society as citizens.	(ii) Government is a part of the State.
(iii) A State is permanent in nature.	(iii) A Government exists for a specific time period.
(iv) The State is an impersonal authority. It is politically neutral.	(iv) The government has an ideological agenda. It wants to implement policies to achieve that agenda.
(v) The State is a sovereign entity.	(v) The source of the authority of the Government is the State.

Question 2.
State and Nation
Answer:

State	Nation
(i) A State is a community of persons who occupy a definite territory, have an organized government, and are independent of external control.	(i) A Nation is a group of people who are united in common ties of culture, history, religion, language, etc.
(ii) A State is known by a fixed, permanent territory.	(ii) A Nation does not need a territory and can be spread across many States.
(iii) State is a political-legal entity. It is a formal and objective condition in law.	(iii) A Nation is a historical-cultural entity. It is a subjective, psychological condition of the spirit.
(iv) The State has coercive power and functions through its laws.	(iv) A Nation has no coercive power but functions through its common ties and psychological spirit.