Centralized state

A centralized state is a state in which the management system is based on the principle of subordination of all local self-government bodies to a single central, governing and coordinating whole system.

In this state, lands (territories, administrative units, etc.) are united by politically common legislation and an economically uniform market around a strong central authority. At the same time, at the stage of intensive unification of lands, an unlimited monarchy is established in the form of absolutism (autocracy).

In Russia, a centralized state was established in the late 15th century under Ivan III. Its main city was Moscow. The completion of the processes of centralization occurred with the first Romanovs, ending at the beginning of the 18th century with the assertion of absolutism under Peter I.

Such a political and territorial organization of the state is based on the division of all its territories into provinces, districts, regions with relatively limited independence. The state has a single legislation, a common citizenship, a system of state power and government bodies, a judicial and tax system, a budget , etc.

A centralized state exists because of a number of objective factors. First and foremost, this national unity, which is an indispensable condition for the formation of such a form of unification of lands and people inhabiting them. The state at the same time reflects the interests of the whole nation as a political community, rather than separate regional, social or ethnic groups. Thanks to a strong center, there is a rallying of society, which was impossible earlier due to the rivalry of individual representatives of the nobility who fought for power.

The following are the essential features of a centralized state.

The centralization factor is the need to create uniform state authorities. Only the central government is able to unify general laws and provide public services to citizens. Its existence provides people with the possibility of free migration from one region to another.

An important advantage of developing this type of state is the social equality of all its citizens. In the conditions of decentralization, certain peripheral administrative and political institutions rely only on their own strengths. To correct inequality, it is necessary to have central government power that has more powers than regions that have less economic potential and which, because of this, have more acute social problems and needs.

The processes of centralization go hand in hand with the economic strengthening of the state. A single management center is capable of ensuring stable economic growth and the creation of an infrastructure (communication system).

The population of many states is millions. Therefore, at present, their management may not be as effective as during their early history of development. The reasons for this lie in the dangers of bureaucratic chaos. Therefore, now the processes of centralization in many of the world's fears are beginning to reverse - to decentralization.

A centralized state is characterized by a total lack of local autonomy, since local government functions are performed by administrators (officials) appointed from above. Therefore, in this situation, authoritarian political features are clearly traced. The greatest degree of centralism is observed in the states in which there is a vertical system of government bodies. Today, in a pure form, such a system can only be observed in conditions of military regimes.