Theories OF THE Origin OF THE State PDF

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There are several theories about how the state came to be. In this context, different scholars have expressed different points of view through their own theories. The Divine Origin theory and the Evolutionary or Historical theory are two important theories. These two theories will be discussed here,...

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THEORIES OF THE ORIGIN OF THE STATE: DIVINE ORIGIN THEORY AND EVOLUTIONARY THEORY

LEARNING OBJECTIVES After going through this unit, you will be able to• explain the origin of the state with reference to the Divine Origin Theory • point out the criticisms of the Divine Origin Theory • describe the Evolutionary or Historical theory regarding the origin of the state • examine the criticisms of the Evolutionary or Historical theory. INTRODUCTION One of the most important aspects of political science is the study of the state. Only in a well-organized state can humans live a civilised life. We discussed the meaning, nature, and four constituent elements of the state in the previous unit. This unit will attempt to discuss two important theories related to the state's origin: the Divine Origin Theory and the Evolutionary or Historical Theory. THEORIES OF THE ORIGIN OF THE STATE There are several theories about how the state came to be. In this context, different scholars have expressed different points of view through their own theories. The Divine Origin theory and the Evolutionary or Historical theory are two important theories. These two theories will be discussed here, with an emphasis on their relevance and importance in explaining the origins of the state, as well as critiques of the theories.

Divine Origin Theory The Divine Origin theory is the oldest theory that attempts to explain how the state came to be. The divine origin theory predates the establishment of the state. This theory strongly believes that the state is a divinely created institution. This theory held that it was God's will for humans to live in a political society, and that as a result, God created the state to save humanity from extinction. The state was created by God for the benefit of all people. This theory holds that the state is governed by God Himself, who sends His representative to do so. As a result, the theory holds that the King is God's divinely appointed agent and representative, and that he is therefore accountable to God rather than the people. On Earth, the King has unrestricted power, and no one can challenge his authority. The King's actions and orders are supposed to be just and beneficent. All of the King's powers and authority come from God, and resisting the King's authority is a form of disobedience to God, and thus a sin. People's obedience to the King, according to this theory, is a religious duty. Another point worth

mentioning is that supporters of the Divine Origin theory believed in a hereditary monarchical form of government, which meant that all of a King's powers and rights should be passed down from father to son. As a result, the theory establishes the state's divine sanctity and elevates the King above all people and laws. The state was widely believed to be God's creation during the ancient period. During that time, the state's authority was linked to unseen powers, and the ruler was a hybrid of a priest and a king. The King's order was supposed to be supreme, and defying the King's authority was seen as a sin against God. The Mahabharata, the Old Testament, and other ancient religious texts contain numerous references to the Divine Origin theory.

Criticisms of the Divine Origin theory The state's Divine Origin theory was relevant in the ancient period, but it is no longer so. This theory has been slammed for a variety of reasons. The following are some of the criticisms levelled at this theory: 1) Critics have argued that the Divine Origin theory's claim that the state is a divine institution created by God has no relevance in the current context, because the state is essentially a human institution. 2) The Divine Origin theory, which tries to justify the king's unlimited and arbitrary powers, may give rise to despotic rulers. 3) This Divine Origin theory is only applicable to absolute monarchical governments. However, in today's world, such monarchical government is no longer relevant. 4) The Divine Origin theory advocates for the King's absolute power over the people. This reflects the fact that people in such a state had no personal freedom.

5) Though the Divine origin theory is no longer valid, it was useful in the primitive period, when society was still semi-civilized and there was no authority to enforce rules and regulations. The Divine Origin theory instilled the belief that the King's powers and laws were sanctioned by religion, and thus that obeying the state is a religious duty. As a result, when people were unable to govern themselves, this theory taught them to obey the King. In such a situation, the Divine Origin theory aided in the maintenance of order by establishing the belief that the King is God's representative and that people must obey him.

Evolutionary or Historical Theory

Another important theory about the state's origin is the evolutionary or historical theory. Modern sociological, historical, and anthropological research have all contributed to the theory. The state is a natural institution, according to evolutionary theory. In terms of the state's emergence, this theory contends that the state did not emerge suddenly, but rather as a result of past evolution and is evolving slowly and gradually over time. The state has gone through several stages of evolution to arrive at its current state. Social instinct, kinship, force or war, religion, economic activities, and political consciousness have all played a role in the evolution of the state. These are discussed in the following order:

Human Social Instinct: Human Social Instinct is an important factor that has influenced the evolution of the state. "Man is by nature a social animal," said Greek political philosopher Aristotle. Human beings felt the need for a state to lead a secure life, according to Aristotle, because of their social instincts, and the state ensured a better life for them. In this context, we can say that man's social instinct prompted people to live together, resulting in the formation of society and, eventually, the state.

Kinship: Kinship, or blood relationships, is another important factor that has contributed to the emergence of the state. People who were related by blood used to live together long before the formation of the state in the primitive period. Professor Gilchrist, an American scholar, has also stated that blood ties are an unavoidable bond in society. The earliest human organisations and unions were based on blood relationships and kinship, as far as we can tell. People who shared a common ancestor lived in a community. As a result, during the primitive period, the family was at the heart of human organisation. With the passage of time, a family evolved into a household, then into clans, and the clans were grouped into tribes, which eventually led to the formation of a state. Family relationships bred traits such as loyalty and obedience, both of which are important factors in the evolution of the state. As a result, we can conclude that kinship played a critical role in the development of the state.

Force or War: Force or war is another factor that has played a significant role in the emergence of the state. Force or might was the determining factor in every aspect during the primitive period, and only the physically strongest survived. A more powerful group of people could overthrow the weaker group and take control.

Historical evidence also suggests that a group of warriors established their dominance by occupying a territory by force. Many modern states were founded as a result of this factor of force or war. War has been a major factor in the formation of states since the beginning of time. Religion: Religion has played an important role in the evolution of the state. Religion ruled almost every aspect of human life during the ancient period. Religion contributed to the strengthening of bonds of unity among families, clans, tribes, and kingdoms. Religion brought people together and instilled a sense of unity among them during the primitive and Middle Ages periods. People followed religious norms superstitiously during the very primitive period due to their ignorance. People believed that all of the changes in their lives, nature, and the earth were due to some supernatural force, and that if they did not worship God, great disaster would ensue. Magician kings appeared in later ages, taking advantage of the people's ignorance to establish their authority by claiming to be able to exorcise all evil spirits. The magician kings were eventually replaced by priest kings, who ruled the Christian world as its religious head until the end of the Middle Ages. For example, the Pope ruled the Christian world as its religious head. As a result, religion can be said to have united people from the beginning of time through common religious practises and rituals that they followed under the direction of priestly authorities, eventually leading to the formation of the state.

Economic Activities: Economic activities have also played an important role in the evolution of the state. From the very dawn of human civilization, men have a number of economic needs and aspirations and for fulfilling these needs and aspirations they have to depend on one another and as a result of this dependency, economic relations grew among the people. In such economic relationships, disputes arose among the people and then there came the need of the state authority to regulate, by enacting laws, the economic relations among people. Thus, economic activities also helped in the evolution of the state. Political Consciousness: The emergence of political consciousness among the people has also played a significant role in the evolution of the state. People wanted to live a better and more settled social, moral, and intellectual life as time passed. Furthermore, people began to recognise the importance of maintaining peace and order, and political consciousness developed as a result. People realised that the only way to progress was to form some sort of political organisation. People began to work together to meet their needs and aspirations as a result of their increased political awareness. In due course, this political consciousness led to the establishment of the state. Evolutionary or historical theory criticisms

The evolutionary or historical theory, on the other hand, has been criticised for the following reasons: The evolutionary or historical theory, according to critics, has simply explained the factors that led to the formation of the state. The theory does not provide an explanation for when and how the state came into being. The factors that led to the emergence of the state are universal, according to evolutionary or historical theory. However, critics argue that these factors are not universal. Though this theory is useful in explaining the state's origins, it does not account for the primitive stage prior to the state's formation. Despite these criticisms, this theory has its own merits in the field of political science. According to the evolutionary or historical theory, the state evolved gradually over time by passing through various stages as a result of a variety of factors.

LET US COMBINE OUR RESULTS. • The two major theories associated with the origin of the state are the Divine Origin theory and the Evolutionary or Historical theory. • The Divine Origin theory proposed that the state is a divinely created institution. • According to the Divine Origin theory, God either governs the state directly or sends a representative to do so. As a result, the King is God's representative, and as a result, the King is accountable to God rather than the people. • The Divine Origin theory favoured the King having absolute and unrestricted power. Resistance to the King's authority, according to this theory, is a sin. • The Divine Origin theory has been criticised because it has the potential to breed despotic rulers and is anti-individual liberty. • The Divine Origin theory has been criticised, but it served a purpose in the early period. The Divine Origin theory, which established the fact that the King is the representative of God and that people must obey him, helped to maintain order during the early period when there was no authority. • The evolutionary or historical theory of the state's origins contends that the state did not appear out of nowhere; rather, it is the result of past evolution and is evolving slowly and gradually over time. • According to evolutionary or historical theory, a number of factors, such as social instinct, kinship, force or war, religion, economic activities, and political consciousness, have influenced the evolution of the state.

• Critics have argued that the Evolutionary or Historical theory merely explains the factors that led to the formation of the state but does not answer the question of when and how the state came into being. The theory does not provide any information about the primitive stage prior to the formation of the state....