Class State Theory

Since the State is the type of political organization that has become widespread in industrial society and has spread to the entire planet in the twentieth century, its understanding is fundamental to education in Political Science. The curricular unit will therefore focus on aspects that distinguish the State from other forms of political organization, its structure, and the instruments that it has in its relationship with society. Special attention will therefore be given to the legal and sociological issues

1 - Models of political organization: gang, tribe, city, empire, State

 2 - The notion of State: the monopoly of laws, taxes, and legitimate violence

3 - The notion of sovereignty. Sovereign, half-sovereign, and non-sovereign states

4 - Unitary states and federal states. The functioning of the Federations.

5 - State, nation and civil society

6 - Relationship between society and the State, based on the systemic theory

7 - Legality and legitimacy

8 - State organs

 9 - The rule of law

10 - The welfare state

11 - The State in the age of globalization

The innovative methodologies to support the teaching-learning process include the possibility of students to propose the analysis in the classroom of elements that they consider important for the thematic under study, namely papers and analysis about the role that the State can or must play in a globalized world.

Burdeau, G. (1981), O Estado. Lisboa: Europa-América
Colin, H. (2005). The State. Theories and Issues. London: Palgrave
Guerrero, A. & Lara, M. (Dir.). (2010). Teoria del Estado I. El Estado y sus Instituciones. Madrid: UNED
Jellinek, G. (2000), Teoria general del Estado (trad). Granada: Comares
Neves, M., Pinto, A. & Sousa, L. (Coord.). (2018). Política. Lisboa: Edições 70
Pinto, J. (2020). Estados Desunidos da Europa. A hora do futuro. Lisboa: Sílabo
Renner, K. (2015). Estado y nación. El derecho de las naciones al autodeterminación. Madrid: Tecnos
Skinner, Q. (2011). Uma genealogia do estado moderno. Lisboa: ICS 
Silva, F. (2013). O futuro do estado social. Lisboa: FFMS