Various theories have been put forward to explain the origin of the state. Some philosophers assert that the state is the result of social contract or an agreement between the people and the sovereign. There are others who feel that it is the direct result of force.
There is yet another set of philosophers who contend that the state is a magnified image of the family. All these theories, however, are maimed and fallacious and have little truth in them.
This led Garner to remark that the state is neither a handiwork of God, nor the result of a superior physical force, nor the creation of a contract, nor a mere expansion of family. It is a slow process of growth and evolution. The state did not come into existence abruptly.
It has developed from its crude and simple form to the modern, complex structure slowly. In the words of Leacock, "the state is a growth, an evolution, the result of a gradual process running through out all the known history of man and receding into remote and unknown past."
To sum up, the origin of the state cannot be traced to a single factor of a definite period. The historical theory regards the state as a product of slow historical evolution extending over a long period. Various factors have contributed to its development. These may be discussed as follows:
There is yet another set of philosophers who contend that the state is a magnified image of the family. All these theories, however, are maimed and fallacious and have little truth in them.
This led Garner to remark that the state is neither a handiwork of God, nor the result of a superior physical force, nor the creation of a contract, nor a mere expansion of family. It is a slow process of growth and evolution. The state did not come into existence abruptly.
It has developed from its crude and simple form to the modern, complex structure slowly. In the words of Leacock, "the state is a growth, an evolution, the result of a gradual process running through out all the known history of man and receding into remote and unknown past."
To sum up, the origin of the state cannot be traced to a single factor of a definite period. The historical theory regards the state as a product of slow historical evolution extending over a long period. Various factors have contributed to its development. These may be discussed as follows:
1. Social Instinct:
Aristotle simply stated a fact when he remarked: "Man is by nature a social animal." The germs of social life are laid in the very nature of man. It is this elemental instinct which prompted primitive people to live together in groups.
The state is thus primarily based on the gregarious instinct of man. According to Aristotle, state is even primary to family. Its origin lies in the basic instinct of sociability of man. State is thus natural outcome of very social nature of man.
The state is thus primarily based on the gregarious instinct of man. According to Aristotle, state is even primary to family. Its origin lies in the basic instinct of sociability of man. State is thus natural outcome of very social nature of man.
2. Kinship:
The social instinct of man was supplemented by kinship or blood relationship. The earliest human organizations were based on kinship or blood relationship. Blood relationship was the most important bond of union among the primitive people.
It knit together clans and groups and gave them unity and cohesion. The people who had their origin in a common ancestor lived together in separate social units. Those who could not establish any blood relationship were treated as enemies. Even today, we see various castes and sub-castes.
In sociological sense they have their origin in common ancestor and caste is still known by the name of that original ancestor.
Regardless of this controversy Dr. Leacock remarked, "here it may be matriarchal family, there it may be patriarchal family, but there is no denying the fact that the family is at basis of the state.
“Seeds of the state are found in rigid family discipline. It is in the family that a relationship between command and obedience is established. A family represents the figure of a state in miniature. The entire factors essential for the formation of the state are seen in their diminutive form in the family.
In a tribe, the head of the oldest or the strongest clan became the ruler generally called the 'Chief and his name became the symbol of 'kinship.' In the words of MacIver, 'Kinship created society and society at length created the state.
“Seeds of the state are found in rigid family discipline. It is in the family that a relationship between command and obedience is established. A family represents the figure of a state in miniature. The entire factors essential for the formation of the state are seen in their diminutive form in the family.
In a tribe, the head of the oldest or the strongest clan became the ruler generally called the 'Chief and his name became the symbol of 'kinship.' In the words of MacIver, 'Kinship created society and society at length created the state.
3. Religion:
Religion has played a vital role in the process of the building up of the state. Religion gave unity to the people both in the primitive and middle ages. As Gettle observes, "Kinship and religion were simply two aspects of the same thing.
Common worship was even more essential than kinship subjecting the primitive man to authority and discipline and to develop in him a keen sense of social solidarity and cohesion." Those outside were regarded as stranger and even as enemies. People were thus united together under the authority of the same religious sovereign.
Later, religion appeared in the form of Nature worship. The Primitive men could not understand such natural phenomena as storms, thunder and lightning, or the change of seasons! or the mystery of birth and death. They had implicit faith in the spirits of the nature and the spirits of the dead. They were afraid of the forces of nature. They worshiped them out of awe and reverence.
Whatever the form of religion, there is no denying the fact that religion gave unity to the people and thus virtually helped in the process of state building.
Whatever the form of religion, there is no denying the fact that religion gave unity to the people and thus virtually helped in the process of state building.
4. Force:
Force also played an important part in the development of the state. In primitive ages, might was the supreme right. A powerful person would rally round him a number of warriors and attack a certain territory and would establish his domination over it. History is replete with records showing that big states were formed by occupation and conquest through force.
The application of force also gave territoriality to modern states. War and migration were important factors responsible for the establishment of various states. The demand for constant warfare often led to the rise of permanent headman or chief.
When a tribe was threatened by danger of war, it was driven by necessity to appoint a leader if there was none. The continuation of war was conducive to the establishment of permanent leadership.
When a leader established his authority over a certain territory by conquest and over the people with whom he had no blood relationship, all those who lived in that territory became his subjects. Kinship remained no longer a bond of unity.
When a leader established his authority over a certain territory by conquest and over the people with whom he had no blood relationship, all those who lived in that territory became his subjects. Kinship remained no longer a bond of unity.
5. Economic:
Man has unlimited wants. He cannot satisfy them alone. He has to depend upon others to satisfy his needs. So there is always give and take in society. Man is both selfish and selfless.
There are always disputes. State is born to regulate the economic relations between man and man.
There are always disputes. State is born to regulate the economic relations between man and man.
6. Political Consciousness:
The sixth factor which contributed to the growth and development of the state was the slow rise of political consciousness. It implies the recognition of certain ends of political consciousness. It implies the recognition of certain ends to be attained through political organization.
At first the state came into existence merely as an idea, that is, it appeared in a subjective form, without being a physical fact. In course of time, the supreme importance of maintaining peace and order within the community and defending the country against any external aggression was felt. It is here that political consciousness appears in the real form.
We may conclude with Burgess that the state is the gradual and continuous development of human society out of a grossly imperfect beginning through crude but improving forms of manifestation towards a perfect and universal organization of mankind. The Social Contract Theory suggests that consent on the part of the individual in the form of political consciousness has played an important part in the organization of the state.
Conclusion
No single factor is responsible for state building. It is result of evolutionary process in which kinship; religion, property force and consciousness of people are main factors. State is a natural growth over a long period of history