Unit 2: Idea of State & Theories of Origin

1. Idea of State: Definition, Elements of the State
2. Theories of Origin of State

Idea of State: Definition, Elements of the State

Definition of State

The state is the central and most powerful institution in political science. It is a political organization that possesses ultimate authority (sovereignty) over a defined territory and its population.

Garner's Definition: "The state is a community of persons, more or less numerous, permanently occupying a definite portion of territory, independent (or nearly so) of external control, and possessing an organized government to which the great body of inhabitants render habitual obedience."

Elements of the State

The state is composed of four essential elements. The absence of any one of them means there is no state.

Population: The human element. There must be a population, though its size is not fixed (e.g., China vs. Vatican City).
Territory: A definite geographical area over which the state has control. This includes land, water, and airspace.
Government: The machinery or agency through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed, and realized. It makes and enforces laws.
Sovereignty: The supreme and absolute power of the state. It has two aspects:
- Internal Sovereignty: The state is the highest authority within its territory.
- External Sovereignty: The state is independent and free from foreign control.

⚠️ Common Pitfall: Do not confuse 'State' and 'Government'.

The State is the permanent and abstract entity (the "ship"). It includes all citizens, its territory, and sovereignty.
The Government is the temporary and concrete machinery that runs the state (the "crew"). Governments change, but the state remains.

Theories of Origin of State

These theories are speculative attempts to explain how the state first came into being.

The Divine Origin Theory

This is the oldest theory. It holds that the state was created by God, and the ruler (King) is God's representative on Earth.

Core Idea: The King is accountable only to God, not to the people. To rebel against the King is to rebel against God.
Significance: It was a powerful tool to justify absolute monarchy and demand unquestioning obedience from subjects.
Criticism: It is based on faith, not historical fact or reason. It is undemocratic and promotes the status quo.

The Social Contract Theory

This theory argues that the state is not a natural or divine creation, but a deliberate human creation—an "artificial" institution made by a contract.

It posits a hypothetical "state of nature" (life before the state) from which people escaped by forming a contract.

Thinker	Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan)	John Locke (Two Treatises of Government)	J.J. Rousseau (The Social Contract)
State of Nature	"Solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." A war of all against all.	Peaceful, but inconvenient. People had natural rights (Life, Liberty, Property) but no common judge.	A state of idyllic happiness and freedom. People were "Noble Savages".
Reason for Contract	To escape fear and gain security.	To create an impartial judge to protect natural rights.	The rise of private property corrupted people and created inequality.
Nature of Contract	People surrender all rights to a sovereign (Leviathan), who is not a party to the contract.	People surrender only the right to interpret and enforce the law of nature. A limited government.	People surrender their individual wills to a "General Will" (the common good).
Result (Sovereignty)	Absolute, indivisible sovereignty.	Limited, constitutional sovereignty. People have the right to revolt.	Popular sovereignty. The people are the sovereign.

Criticism: It is unhistorical (there is no evidence of such a contract). The 'state of nature' is a fiction. However, its great value lies in promoting the ideas that the state is a human creation, based on the consent of the governed.

The Evolutionary Theory (or Historical/Sociological Theory)

This is the most scientifically accepted theory. It argues that the state is not a product of a single event or contract, but the result of a slow, gradual process of evolution over a long period.

The state is a "growth, not a make". Several factors contributed to its development:

Kinship: The earliest form of social organization was based on family and blood ties, which fostered authority and unity.
Religion: Common worship and shared beliefs reinforced the authority of leaders (who were often both priest and king) and created social cohesion.
War and Force: Conflict and conquest led to the subjugation of one group by another, the need for defense, and the rise of a military leader, a forerunner of the king.
Economic Activities: The shift from hunting to agriculture led to private property and the need for a stable institution to regulate property rights and manage irrigation.
Political Consciousness: The gradual realization of the need for a common authority to protect, regulate, and promote common welfare.

Exam Tip: While the Social Contract theory is historically inaccurate, it is philosophically very important. The Evolutionary Theory is the most accurate explanation of *how* the state came into being.