What set of circumstances

brought the State?

4 different theories coming

your way!!

Force Theory:

• State was born by force

• One person or small group claimed control over an area and forced all within it to submit to that person or group rule

• Once established you had the presence of the characteristics of a state

Evolutionary Theory

• Developed naturally out of the early family

• The head of the family was the “government” making all the decisions

• Family became a network of families, then a clan, and then became a tribe

• Once agriculture was established the state was born

Divine Right Theory:• Accepted in the Western World from the

15th century through the 18th century

• Held that God had given those royal births a “divine right” to rule.

• People must obey their ruler, not to was defying God

• Theory was challenged which led to the development of democracy

Social Contract Theory:• Origin lies in a “social contract”: Hobbes, Locke,

Rousseau developed it during the Enlightenment

• People lived in a state of nature, strength and intelligence gave you safety

• Overcame this with agreeing with one another to create a state, giving up some rights to promote the well being of all

• It was a voluntary act of free people, to serve only the will of the people, the sole source of political power for the state

Review Question:

•What is the most convincing theory for the evolution of the state?

Marxists Theory:• All societies are divided into classes on the basis of

the relationship of people to the economy

• Capitalist (bourgeoisie)

• Workers

• Farmers

• Intellectuals

• Which ever class dominates the economy controls the government

• “is but a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie” in the U.S.

Power Elite Theory:• Argues that nongovernmental elite makes most

of the major decisions − Corporate Leaders− Top military officials− Key political leaders− Communication/Media leaders− Labor leaders

• Government again is controlled by a few power elite, most of whom are outside of the government

• They act together to serve only their interest− “The Establishment”

Bureaucrats Theory:• Controlled by those who operate

government agencies from day to day

• All institutions, governmental and non governmental, have fallen under the control of large bureaucracies, their expertise makes the government work

• Anyone can come to power, but government agencies control the day to day functions

Pluralist Theory:• No single elite can rule the government

• Everything is scattered into so many hands no one group can rule

• Local, state, federal governmental institutions

• Political resources are sufficiently divided amongst such different kinds of elites, that all or almost all have a chance to effect policy

• They are responsive to their followers.