Etats

États is the French plural noun for État, a term used in political science and public law to describe political-legal entities with sovereignty over a defined territory and population. In this sense, an État is the state as a political order, distinct from its government, its nation or people, and civil society. The concept is central to discussions of sovereignty, state capacity, and the relations between internal authority and international law.

Etymology and usage: The word État derives from Latin status, through medieval and early modern French usage, and it is used to distinguish the enduring political framework from transient political leadership. In French, the plural États is common when referring to multiple states within a federation or union, or to sovereign states in international contexts. The term also appears in combinations such as l’État-nation (nation-state) and États membres (member states).

Powers and institutions: Modern states typically exercise a monopoly on the legitimate use of force within their borders and maintain institutions such as an executive, a legislature, and a judiciary. They establish and enforce laws, collect taxes, administer public services, and conduct foreign policy. State power is often discussed in terms of sovereignty—the supreme authority recognized in international law—and state capacity, the ability to implement policies effectively.

Variations and contexts: States can be unitary or federal. In federal systems, subnational units known as États or states possess varying degrees of autonomy, as seen in federations where the central government shares sovereignty with constituent entities. In international contexts, États refers to sovereign states; in regional or union contexts, it refers to member states within a larger political framework, such as a union or confederation.