Definition of State Policy

In terminology politics The concept of state policy is used to refer to the fundamental principles that should serve as a guide for the government of a nation. In this sense, state policies should not be associated with a specific government or a ideology determined.

On the contrary, this name refers to all those matters that are considered key to defend the general interests of a nation.

The strategic lines of action of a country

Regardless of the existing political tendency in a given context, all state policy should be guided by a long-term project on topics such as education, basic infrastructure, health, employment, public spending or safety citizen. All these aspects have a strategic value, since they do not or should not depend on the ups and downs of political activity.

Any of these matters are considered to be part of state policy for an obvious reason: they affect the general interest of the population.

This concept is sometimes used as a euphemism to legitimize any political decision

Although the correct use of the term must be framed in everything that affects the whole of a nation and that has an evident value strategic, this name is frequently abused or directly used as a euphemism that distorts the message political.

Some political leaders label their decisions affirming that they are authentic state policies, when in reality their proposals are simply electoralist, populist or demagogic.

True state policies must be oriented towards the future

In democratic systems, governments have a limited duration. For this reason, many governments avoid addressing those important issues that are uncomfortable and that can cause them an electoral cost. In this sense, state policies should not ignore measures related to the aging of the population, the public deficit, the investigation or care for people with disability.

The politician who does promote state policies is considered a statesman. In his line of action he tries to build a national project regardless of the electoral processes or his personal interests. To exemplify this idea, we can recall some historical figures who did promote state policies, such as Winston Churchill, Simón Bolívar, Benito Juárez or Abraham Lincoln.

Photos: Fotolia - Primsky / Danu