The state in the past and in the future

There are many uncertainties concerning the state despite the seemingly high degree of knowledge about this institution. Scientists are at variance on how and when it emerged, on the criteria that distinguish it from prestate and nonstate formations, and on the evolutionary types of states. The present-day status of the state is also unclear. Some scholars are of the opinion that it is strengthening, while others think that globalization weakens it. The future of the state is even more questionable: will it survive, disappear, or transform into something different? An attempt is made in this article to generalize some of the aspects of this thematic area and to look into them from a different angle.