THEORIES OF THE STATE: PERSPECTIVES ON THE NIGERIAN VARIANT

Abstract

It is difficult to do away with the State as a concept in the study of politics. Political thinkers are usually concerned with what constitutes the end of the State, which is the basis of moral philosophy. This paper therefore acquaints us with the diverse theories and perspectives on the State so as to provide valuable insights for dealing with public affairs and politics in any society. Specifically, the Paper carefully examines the theories of the State in their diverse perspectives with a view to linking them (the theories) with the practical reality in the Nigerian variant of State and politics so as to equip us with valuable insights for dealing with politics and public affairs in Nigeria. Using mainly secondary sources of data, the major findings of this paper are that in Nigeria, the State has continued to inherit public policies for national development from the International Capitalist system and thus continues to deny its citizens the right to basic amenities of life for socio-economic development. The Nigerian variant of State and politics is therefore incapable, hence, incapacitated in ensuring „good life‟ for its citizens as the chief end of the State. This Paper recommends for a “basic needs approach†as the chief and basic end of the State and Politics in Nigeria. Invariably, the chief and basic end of the State and politics in Nigeria and other Third World Countries should be focused on the basic needs of the citizenry, in which the desire to provide infrastructural facilities like pipe-borne water supply; good, quality and durable roads network; constant and regular electricity supply; adequate, quality and affordable housing facilities, quality and affordable health care delivery services and improved access to quality and affordable educational services, etc, should be the chief concerns of the State (Nigeria) in concrete terms. The State in Nigeria must therefore operate a rule or an ideology with which to tackle its concrete operational responsibilities. Implicitly, government in the Nigerian Variant of State and politics must not only be philosophical but also be realistic in dealing with policies and public affairs to ensure good life for the generality of the citizenry.