Valstyb

Valstybė, or in English state, is the political‑legal organization that exercises sovereignty over a defined territory and its permanent population. In political science, a state is commonly defined by four elements: defined territory, permanent population, a functioning government, and the capacity to engage in international relations.

Historically, the modern idea of the state developed through the rise of centralized authority and the concept of sovereignty, with formalization in early modern Europe and in subsequent legal theory. The contemporary understanding of statehood has been shaped by international law and practices that emphasize sovereignty, legitimacy, and the capacity to act as a subject of international relations.

A widely cited standard for statehood is the Montevideo Convention (1933), which sets four essential elements: a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. Recognition by existing states is common practice but is not universally mandatory for the existence of a state; it often affects diplomatic relations and practical standing in international affairs.

States vary in structure and form. They may be unitary or federal, and their governments may be constitutional or autocratic, republican or monarchical. The state typically exercises a monopoly on the legitimate use of force, enforces laws, maintains public order, provides public services, and conducts foreign policy and economic management.

Statehood faces contemporary challenges from globalization, regional integration, and non‑state actors, as well as internal pressures such as political instability, constitutional crisis, or secession movements. In Lithuanian discourse, valstybė denotes this political unit and its sovereign role in law and society.