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Citizenship

John Davis March 15, 2021 at 12:43 1900 views 7 comments
Hello. 1. The first duty of a state is to defend (militarily?) its citizens. 2. The second duty of a state is to institute a system of 'law'. 3. The first duty of a citizen is to obey the law.
I seem to remember these statements from citizenship classes, decades ago. Can anyone tell me if they have any basis of historical authority?

Comments (7)

javi2541997 March 15, 2021 at 13:07 #510569
Quoting John Davis
1. The first duty of a state is to defend (militarily?) its citizens.


They first duty of a state should be provide employment and food to their citizens.
Count Timothy von Icarus March 15, 2021 at 23:48 #510794
I'm not aware of anything explicitly about this, but this is generally how citizenship in Greek city states worked. The polis' most important function was organizing common defense and a system of laws for adjudicating disputes and property rights.

This obviously shifted over time though. Athens during its "golden age" was using a significant portion of its annual income on public works and art. There were also social services including medicine provided for the poor in many Greek states.

I don't know how much the idea really equates to other areas. The Greeks, and later Rome had a key distinction between citizens and free foreigners living in their lands, or slaves.

For a lot of history civilizations essentially just defined citizenship as living in area controlled by a given monarch.

Certainly medieval thought framed the responsibilities of the state and citizens far more in religious terms and appeals to natural law vis-a-vis God's will than appeals to citizenship as a concept.
John Davis March 16, 2021 at 16:09 #511037
CTvI. Thank you for an informative contribution.
synthesis March 16, 2021 at 17:37 #511051
Quoting javi2541997
They first duty of a state should be provide employment and food to their citizens.


Where is the state going to get the resources to provide employment and food for its citizens?
Tobias March 16, 2021 at 17:41 #511052
Of course it has no basis is historical authority. It is a normative statement the kind of which citizenship classes seem to love so much. It is actually rather militaristic. There is some sort of a legal basis for it though. In international law state sovereignty is recognized if it is able to defend its borders. (I belief, but I am jo expert).
javi2541997 March 16, 2021 at 17:46 #511053
Quoting synthesis
Where is the state going to get the resources to provide employment and food for its citizen


From the revenue of the tax income. Thus, citizens effort to maintain the state. But the revenue obtained shouldn’t be invest in military services I guess
Deleted User March 16, 2021 at 21:29 #511158
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