There are various basic ideas that justify the necessity for a welfare state, which are joined together by the idea of social consensus and solidarity in the interest of preserving peace in society. The only entity capable of exercising all these functions is the state.
This holds true for the state’s traditional roles, internal order and external security. Modern states must secure communication both among its individual authorities and among citizens. This requires the implementation of technologies that enhance the quality of services provided by the state. Market failures affect the stability of the state, and consequently, states are forced to enter this domain, but also protect themselves against monopolization and secure the functioning of the market economy. A substantial portion of the funds that the state has at its disposal is spent on various social expenditures. All developed countries are faced with the necessity to protect the environment, which is, again, a global requirement. Last, but not least, the state must collect taxes to finance the activities of the welfare state. All of the above must be distributed and implemented by competent authorities established by the state. Despite the critics of the welfare state who argue that it is expensive, demotivating and bureaucratic, it is a reality without any adequate alternative, and its role will definitely increase in the near future.
welfare state
regulation
security/safety
communication
environment
financial markets
competition
taxes
employment
liberalism
conservatism
socialism
Doc. JUDr. Pavel Mates CSc., lecturer in administrative law at the Faculty of Law of the University of Western Bohemia in Plzeň and at the University of Finance and Administration in Prague, specializes in administrative penalties and in information systems law, a topic on which he has published several monographs and a sizable number of articles in scholarly publications. He also concerns himself with the protection of privacy in administrative law, with particular consideration to police operations and the work of other public service bodies. He is an active member of government bodies that are in charge of drafting legislation.
e-mail: mate@ksp.zcu.cz
PhDr. Mgr. Jan Šmíd, Ph.D. teaches theory of law, constitutional law and political science at the University of Finance and Administration in Prague, political philosophy and philosophy of law at Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, and political ideologies at the University of Economics in Prague. He specializes in the above topics, which he has elaborated on in his contributions to several collections of papers and articles published in academic magazines.
e-mail: john_smid@yahoo.com, jan.smid@vsfs.cz
