The idea of the State in the structure of the concept of “Civilization-State”: western and non-western perspectives on the problem

Abstract

The emergence of a new subject of world politics – the “Civilization-State” which is a re­ply to the challenges of American hegemony, has caused sharp criticism in the Western scientific community. The main objection that is put forward is the incompatibility of the institutional essence of the State (as it is understood in the West) with the notion of the “organic” nature of Civilization. Such an approach shows that there is a deep con­tradiction in the interpretation of the State and Statehood in Western and non-Western thought. This article is devoted to revealing the essence of this contradiction.

The idea of the State in the West has been transformed over the centuries from its Aris­totelian ethical interpretation as virtue and “Good purpose” to the modern American con­cept of the “State-Enterprise”. That model is seeking to extend all over the World.

But the modern Western form of Statehood is not universal. It is a local-civiliza­tional form suitable for the Euro-American region. This form has developed under the in­fluence of specific socio-political circumstances. The absence of catastrophically destructive outsider factors threatening to destroy the Western civilization resulted in a lower level of po­litical centralization and a higher level of political autonomy. The second feature of the West­ern model was the particular role of market relations and the role of elite. As a result a diminu­tion of the role of the state occurred. The function was reduced to a service one. The evolution of Western idea of Statehood culminated in the American model of the “State-Enterprise”.

In non-Western scientific thought, the State has taken the mobilization form as a result of socio-historical development and powerful external existential challenges. The State retains the con­notation of ethical Value. It acquires the meaning of the top Value, and has brought to life dif­ferent degrees of its sacralization. The latter has its own peculiarities in the modern Chinese model of Civilization-State, as well as in the Russian one. The both are discussed in this article.

The phenomenon of sacralization also takes place in the Western model. The market took the place of the “Sacred” in the Western socio-political structure. It became the “invisible hand”, the magic power that replaced the God as a result of a widespread devaluation, even complete abandonment of Christianity paradigm in the New Modern Times.

The State is a necessary element of Civilizational Renaissance of society at the end of deep crises. Thus, the formula the “Civilization-State” given to new subjects of world politics has received an additional positive argument considering the modern profound transformation of the World structure.