(The term “Teutons” historically refers to a Germanic tribe that lived in Northern Europe during ancient times. They were one of the many tribes that played a role in the migration and settlement patterns of early European history.)

Nature and Significance of State

• Concept of the state has figured as the central theme of traditional political theory.
• R.G. Gettal (Political Science, 1949) defined political science as ‘the science of the state’.

R.G. Gettal was an American Political Professor and Football Coach.

• J.W. Garner (Political Science and Government, 1928) claims that political science begins and ends with the state.

James Wilford Garner (1871-1938) was a professor of Political Science at university of Pennsylvania and at University of Illionois. Also lecturer at University of Culcutta (1922). 

He edited Essays on Southern History and Politics (1914). 

• Some exponents of behavioural approach in political science have even suggested abandoning the concept of the state altogether. Their main objection is that this concept does not help in understanding political reality or the political process, because: –

1. The term ‘state’ refers to a formal concept while real politics transcends the formal organization of the state.
2. The ‘state’ is usually conceived in terms of the ‘ends’ of the state which drags us to the realm of moral philosophy, far removed from the real world of politics.
3. The concept of the state postulates a particular type of organization which excludes idea of ‘Pre-State’ societies and ‘stateless’ societies. 

This leads to the assumption that political organization is not a universal phenomenon.

• The terms ‘slave-owning state’, ‘Feudal State’, ‘Capitalist State’, ‘Socialist/Communist State’, ‘Pre-State Society’ and ‘Stateless Society’ are the current coins of Marxist Political Theory.