davlat

Davlat is a political-legal entity defined by a defined territory, a permanent population, a centralized government, and the capacity to enter into international relations. In Uzbek and related languages, the term also denotes a country or the state apparatus. A state claims sovereignty over its affairs and is recognized by other states as a subject of international law.

Sovereignty encompasses internal and external dimensions: the state has the ultimate authority to govern within its borders and to act on the international stage, subject to international norms. For a political entity to function as a state, it typically maintains stable institutions, a legal system, and the means to regulate security, economy, and public life.

Functions commonly include maintaining public order and defense, administering justice, delivering public services such as health and education, regulating the economy, collecting taxes, and conducting foreign policy. Through these tasks a state seeks to ensure national safety, social welfare, and sustainable development within its territory.

Forms of state organization vary. States may be unitary or federal, centralized or decentralized, and may adopt republican, constitutional, or autocratic governance. Administrative divisions, constitutions, and legal frameworks shape how power is distributed and how rights are protected. The distinction between a state and a government is often emphasized in political science.

Terminology and etymology: the word davlat is cognate with Persian/Arabic dawla and Turkish devlet, reflecting historical concepts of rule, sovereignty, and public administration. In many regions, it denotes the state, the government apparatus, or the national community as a political entity.