Formal Agency of Social Control - Government

Question 1

What is the State/Government

Definition

Answer 1

Association designed to maintain order and security

exercising universal jurisdiction within territorial boundaries

by means of law backed by force and recognised as having sovereign authority

Question 2

Functions of the Government

Answer 2

1. State functions through the government. Modern nation-states strive to be welfare state i.e. they seek to provide to the citizens a wide range of social services like education, medical care, old age pension and unemployment allowance. These are achieved by means of the cooperation of individuals and through collective efforts of the media, civil society and other social institutions
2. For example “5 fruit a day” programmes of the government are extensively supported by the use of TV, posters and educational institutions, all of which try to educate the public on the advantages of the government measures. In a context such as this, the government acts as an informal agency of social control.

Some, functions: maintenance of law and order, defence, currency etc require State intervention in a formal manner

Overall, the government has become increasingly important as an agent of social control

Question 3

Functions of the Government

Answer 3

1. State functions through the government
   Modern nation-states strive to be welfare state
   i.e. they seek to provide a wide range of social services
   (education, medical care, old age pension and unemployment allowance)
   Achieved by means of the cooperation of individuals and through collective efforts of the media, civil society and other social institutions
2. For example “5 fruit a day” programmes of the government are extensively supported by use of TV, posters and educational institutions
   All of which try to educate public on advantages of government measures
   In a context such as this, government acts as an informal agency of social control.

Some, functions: maintenance of law and order, defence, currency etc require State intervention in a formal manner

Overall, the government has become increasingly important as an agent of social control