The Origins

of the State
 THE STATE is a central concept in the study and practice of
politics

State (Websters Dictionary: a form or mode of being, a

condition). From Latin status (literally: standing)
The political term the state conveys the idea of an
impersonal and sovereign political order* in society
(letat in French, das Staat in German, lo stato in
Italian, estado in Spanish)
____________
*David Held, Introduction. In: States and Societies. Edited by David Held et al.
Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1985, p.1
Society and the State
Human society predates the state. History knows societies
without states, but no state without a society.
Reminder: the state arises at a stage in social evolution when
human society becomes bigger, more complex, more
productive, more divided by private property
and when the very existence of society begins to require a
special mechanism for coordination and use of social power
--The state is created as a set of institutions possessing the
power (authority) to make and carry out decisions binding
upon society
--The state is an association formed by members of society
--But this association is distinct among all other associations
in that its decisions have supreme authority. The state thus
rules over society.
--Laws are established to regulate the use of this authority.
--And government is organized as a mechanism to use it.
The state and government

The term the state has a wider meaning, referring to the

entire set of social relations concerning the use of political
authority
Government is a narrower term referring to how a state is
organized
We say government when we refer to:
a particular group exercising political power at the
moment (e.g. the Liberal Government)
institutions of a state (e.g. the Federal Government)
Ontario has a government, but it is not a state. Ontario is a
part of the Canadian state
Canada is a state, and it has a government
In the United States, a state is one of the 50 territorial units
which form the Union. Each State has its State Government.
The Federal Government exercises authority over the entire
American territory.

To avoid confusion, Americans tend to use the term the

government both in the narrower sense and when they
mean the state. Still, one can use the expression the
American state (but not an American state) to refer to the
entire American system of government. Official description of
the US President is chief of state.
Three definitive features of the state
(See Max Weber, Politics as a Vocation):

Monopoly on force has the right and ability to use violence,

in legally defined instances, against members of society, or
against other states
Legitimacy its power is recognized by members of society
and by other states as based on law and some form of
justice.
Territoriality the state exists in a defined territory (which
includes land, water and air) and exercises authority over
the population of that territory
So, at some point in history, one form of political organization,
the state, emerged to establish its supremacy over all
others
What factors contributed to this:
--War (defensive or offensive)
--Strengthening and expansion of territorial control
--Social differentiation
--The rise of private property as a key social institution
--The growth of the power of political rulers and their
servants
Analyzing the state: 3 main traditions
(See Oxford Concise Dictionary of Politics: state):

Issues:
--Where does the power of the state come from? Or, what is
the source of sovereignty?
--How much power should the state have over society?
--How can society control the state to make sure that the
state always serves societys interests?
--How should the state be organized?
Three main approaches:
STATIST, PLURALIST, MARXIST
 More from Thomas Hobbes Leviathan:
Hereby it is manifest that during the time men live without a
common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that
condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every
man, against every man.
The only way to erect such a common power, as may be
able to defend them from the invasion of foreigners, and the
injuries of one another, and thereby to secure them in such
sort, as that by their own industry, and by the fruits of the
earth, they may nourish themselves and live contentedly; is,
to confer all their power and strength upon one man, or upon
one assembly of men, that may reduce all their wills, by
plurality of voices, unto one will: and therein to submit their
wills, every one to his will, and their judgments, to his
judgment.
(continued on the next page)
This done, the multitude so united in one person,
is called a COMMONWEALTH, in Latin CIVITAS.
This is the generation of that great LEVIATHAN, or
rather (to speak more reverently) of that mortal
god, to which we owe under the immortal God, our
peace and defence.

(continued on the next page)

For by this authority, given him by every particular man in
the commonwealth, he hath the use of so much power and
strength conferred on him, that by terror thereof, he is
enabled to form the wills of them all, to peace at home, and
mutual aid against their enemies abroad...And he that
carrieth this person, is called SOVEREIGN, and said to
have sovereign power; and every one besides, his
SUBJECT
And the covenants, without the sword, are but words, and
of no strength to secure a man at all.
Thomas Hobbes, Leviathan, pp.629, 631, 641
STATIST THEORIES

The oldest ideas about the state. Value order above freedom.
--View the state as an organism which possesses its own life,
largely autonomous of the individual wishes of the members of
society.
--Policies of the state are motivated, above all, by the interests
of the state (raison detat), which are considered the same as
the interests of society. Stress social unity.
--Reflect the experience of ancient and medieval empires,
absolute monarchies of the Modern Age, right-wing and left-
wing dictatorships of the last century.
But statism is practiced in democratic states, too.
--It is invoked to justify expansion of state power in times of
national emergency (war, severe economic crisis, civil
disorders, ecological catastrophe).
--It is reflected in the legal and political notion of public
interest, which is usually considered as supreme over
private interests.
 What is government more than the management of the
affairs of a nation? It is not, and from its nature cannot be,
the property of any particular man or family, but of the
whole community, at whose expense it is supported
Sovereignty, as a matter of right, appertains to the nation
only, and not to any individual; and a nation has at all times
an inherent indefeasible right to abolish any form of
government it finds inconvenient, and establish such as
accords with its interest, disposition, and happiness
Every citizen is a member of the sovereignty, and, as such,
can acknowledge no personal subjection; and his
obedience can be only to the laws.
(Continued on the next page)
Great part of that order which reigns among mankind is
not the effect of government. It has its origins in the
principles of society and the natural constitution of man. It
existed prior to government, and would exist if the
formality of government was abolished. The mutual
dependence and reciprocal interest which man has upon
man, and all the parts of a civilized community upon each
other, create that great chain of connexion which holds it
together.
Thomas Paine, The Rights of Man. In: David Held et al (ed.) State and Societies,
pp.84-85
PLURALIST THEORIES
Dominant today; serve as the basis for the theory and practice
of liberal democracy. Value freedom above order.
--View the state as a product of a contract between
members of society. Government is elected by citizens and
is accountable to them.
--View the state as a political market - a neutral arena for
constant competition between different societal interest
groups (farmers, businesses, unions, women, minorities,
retirees, taxpayers, etc.).
--Policies of the state reflect, above all, the results of this
competition.
--Stress competition among members of society.
--Seek to limit state power over society.
In real practices of states, pluralism coexists and interacts with
statism
MARXIST THEORIES
Since mid-19th century, have influenced development of
political thought,
and provided ideological fuel for socialist movements. Value
social justice and equality above order and freedom
--View the state as the tool used by the dominant class to
maintain its domination.
--Policies of the state reflect, above all, the interests of the
dominant class, rooted in private ownership of the means of
production.
--Stress class conflict as the main dynamic of society.
--Advocate the creation of a classless society in which the
state will wither away as no longer needed.
In the 20th century, Marxist ideas were used in the
creation of communist states in Eastern Europe
and Asia. Communism did bring about rapid
modernization of societies, but resulted in the rise
of new forms of extreme statism and unrestrained,
inefficient bureaucratic rule.
--Each of the three approaches contains important insights
into the nature of the state.
--The different theories overlap, interact, influence each
other.
--They continue to evolve, as people search for new
answers to the problems they face
--Depending on the course of history, some become more
influential than others
--Some work better in the practice of government
--Others work better as sources of the politics of protest and
change
A World of States
In the last 5,000 years, humanity has created thousands of different states,
from tiny city-states to global empires
Today, there are 191 sovereign states in the world, members of the United
Nations. The 2 newest members of the UN are Switzerland (an old
state) and Timor-Leste (a brand new state, formerly part of Indonesia)
Almost all of them are nation-states organized on the basis of distinct
nations
New states continue to appear; some scholars predict that in the 21st
century hundreds, if not thousands of new states will be created
Existing states undergo changes in their organization
They are challenged from within and from without
They are constantly tested for viability and adaptability
How much change can a state withstand? Can a state afford to be static?