A Failing State

Britain is, I believe, a failing state among floundering nations.

As the “state” withdraws from sectors of activity: housing, transport, utilities, health, food, etc., it leaves provision to the “market”: individuals, families, firms and business. So, the receding “state” finds itself just another firm among many: a big gang, yes, but having no more validity and diminishing loyalty. What were once felt as grand institutions become vulnerable to predation. Sometimes the withdrawl is intentional and semi-planned as the sale of public utilities was. Sometimes collapse is accidental or careless. But as the state gets smaller and other institutions become larger the competition for public affection becomes apparent. If the only virtue of the state is its power, as a firm, to raise the force needed to assert authority over a domain, any bigger bully will do. Or, can, will, and does. As this thread expands I will need to ask a few questions like: Is a state a necessary component of civil society? What is a state? And how is it different (is it?) from a “nation”?