what is a state first of all it must be noted that scholars do not agree with a single universal definition of the concept of the state but is widely used in political science the term state refers to the community or society politically organized under one independent government within a definite territory and subject to no outside control differently a state is a community formed by people and exercising permanent power within a specified territory in the context of international law a state is typically defined as being based on the 1933 montevideo convention according to article one of the convention the state as a person of international law should possess the following qualifications one permanent population two defined territory three government and four capacity to enter into relations with the other states as is well known the history of the western state begins in ancient greece plato and arista wrote of the polis or city-state as an ideal form of association in which the whole community's religious cultural political and economic needs could be satisfied this city-state characterized primarily by its self-sufficiency was seen by aristotle as the means of developing morality in the human character the greek idea corresponds more accurately to the modern concept of the nation that is a population of a fixed area that shares a common language culture and history whereas the roman res publica or commonwealth is more similar to the modern concept of the state res publica was a legal system whose jurisdiction extended to all roman citizens securing their rights and determining their responsibilities it was not until the 16th century that the modern concept of the state emerged especially in the writings of nicola machiavelli and zan boden as the centralizing force whereby stability might be regained in the prince machiavelli gave prime importance to the durability of government sweeping aside all moral considerations and focusing instead on the strength that is the vitality courage and independence of the ruler for bowdoin machiavelli's contemporary power was not sufficient in itself to create a sovereign rule must comply with morality to be durable and it must have continuity that is a means of establishing succession bowden's theory was the forerunner of the 17th century doctrine known as the divine right of kings whereby monarchy became the predominate form of government in europe it then created a climate for the ideas of the 17th century reformers like john locke in england and zanza russo in france who began to re-examine the origins and purposes of the state