1. Origins of the State
The Four theories

2. Evolutionary Theory The notion of the State evolved from the Family
The heads of ancient families served as the authority and the extended family could be 100’s of people
Supporters of this theory believe that government came about because the extended families needed more organization

3. Force theory
State emerged when people needed to cooperate to survive, but could only be organized when one or more people took control
Strong leaders used violence and threats of violence to get work done
The state emerged when everyone in the area was brought under the authority of one person or a group by use of force

4. Divine right theory
The idea that a certain person or people are chosen by gods to rule
Rulers were the descendants of gods or chosen by them (Egyptian, Chinese, maya)
Divine right however refers to European monarchs in the 1600s and 1700s who proclaimed their right to rule came from god alone
The state existed to serve the demands of god, to oppose the monarch is to oppose the god, thus being treasonous and sinful

5. Social contract theory
State exists to protect and serve the people
Without a state of government, people would live in a ‘state of nature”
Poor, nasty, brutish, and short – Hobbes
Labyrinth vs right to revolt