The State Vs. The Village

The State vs the Village.
In the previous blog, the case was made why the state and the village are not and cannot be the same. So when we say the village can raise a child, it can and it does and it should. The state should not because the state is not the same as a village. The village is about tradition and continuity of being in a place with others who are like minded in that place. Often those who occupy a village are racially and ethnically homogenius.
Native American Indian tribes are a good example of a village as they remain in their place in their identity and in their tradition which they uphold through ritual and habit of the heart - connectedness in the same spirit.
We could argue that such 'tribes' can exist among us even today in our 21st century. We could observe in our cities and suburbs a 'village' mentality. You may find people of different race, ethnicity, and even religion living as a 'village'. In saying that, we have to realize that it is only possible when those as 'villagers' remain in their place, identity and practice traditions in order to sustain and promote continuity in a place, and they find themselves able to do that because they are like minded of the same spirit. So, in this way, the village can raise a child... and in saying that... the state can stay out. In fact, there is no reason for the state to be there in the village.

The State vs. the Village.
The state is a set of institutions governing a particular territory with a capacity to make laws regulating the conduct of the people within that territory and supported by revenue deriving from taxation. The capacity to make and enforce law is dependent upon the state's monopoly of legitimate force.
The village is not a set of institutions in the same way as the state. The village is about tradition in a place and those traditions remain 'are practiced' as they are successful (sustaining) for the villagers in a place. Traditions contain rights of passage, clearly defined role relationships (those that will create and bring up new villagers), and a strong sense of community grounded in a place.

Unfortunately, many people in this 21st century live in a state. Today, the state is suffering.Why? Due to the increasing globalization of the modern world government have decreasing control over activities within the territory 'state. For example, commercial enterprises operate on an international scale and can move resources from state to state at will. the activities of global financial markets can totally destabilize governments, which have to a large extent lost control over their own economies.