The concept of the state: a return to the classics

Abstract

The article examines the state from the perspective of classical European and Russian social studies (jurisprudence, sociology, philosophy). Different approaches to understanding the state are shown, an original interpretation of the main elements of the state (people, territory, state power) is given, using the initial positions of classical social science. The people are considered in three aspects: as a biological phenomenon, cultural-historical and legal. With regard to the territory, it is noted that the main thing for the state is not the natural features, but the properties of the people. The theory of sovereignty is analyzed. It is argued that the classical approach is characterized by the position that not every state has sovereignty.