Theory of State and Law within the System of Legal Sciences: Place, Functions, and Methodological Foundations

The article examines the place of the theory of state and law within the system of legal sciences as a foundational general-theoretical discipline that ensures conceptual coherence in jurisprudence and methodological consistency across sectoral legal studies. It outlines the core functions of the theory of state and law in both scholarly and educational dimensions, including the development of basic legal categories, the explanation of patterns of state-and-law evolution, and the formulation of general criteria for assessing legality, legal certainty, and the stability of the legal order. Particular attention is paid to the methodological foundations of theoretical legal analysis and their relevance for interpreting legal reality, the interaction of legal institutions, and the procedural framework of legal protection. The article argues that the development of the theory of state and law requires sustained engagement with law-enforcement practice, avoidance of conceptual dogmatism, and an orientation toward strengthening trust in law and a just legal order.