Force Theory

A Presentation On

By - Satya Vrat

Definition of Force Theory

* According to this theory, the state is the result of superior physical forces; it originates in the subjugation of weaker by stronger.

* It is said that the state is the result of aggression and the saying that 'war begot the king' is offered as the historical explanation regarding the origin of the state.Thus through the process of conquest and domination, the institution of kingship came to be established. A state was formed when the leader of a victorious tribe,with his handful of warriors, secured an undisputed control over a definite territory of a considerable size. That led to creation of a state.

" The beginning of the state are to be sought in the capture and enslavement of man by man, in the conquest and subjugation of weaker tribes and generally in the self-seeking domination acquired by superior physical force "

According to Lcacock

History of the Force Theory

* The Church Fathers gave indirect prominence to this theory in their controversy with the Kings of Europe regarding their supremacy.

* They tried to discredit the state by saying that it was the result of brute force and the Kings were force personified.

* The Individualist School of thought gives it importance by the application of the principle of the 'survival of the fittest' to human society.

* The theory of force found an all-out support at the hands of the German philosophers like Hegel, Bernhardi and Triestchki. * Triestchki, ‘State is power: it is sin for a state to be weak State is the public power of offence and defence’.

Merits of the Force Theory

* In so far as this theory explains the origin and development of the state, it contains a considerable amount of truth because war and conquest have gone along way in building of states in all ages.

*The theory brings to the forefront the fact that 'might' or force is indispensable to the state and without it a state can neither exist nor function.

Criticism Of Force Theory

The state based on mere brute force can continue its existence for a temporary period of time but ultimately it will be found that something other than force is necessary to ensure the continuance of the state.

* Force is not the only factor

* Opposed to individual liberty * The theory is opposed to the idea of individual freedom and upholds despotism, In pre-war Germany, Treitschki and Bernhardi preached the gospel of force and world domination.

*They maintained that war was a biological necessity and peace meant decadence.

* Non-violence alternative to force

* Mahatma Gandhi, held the view that society can be effectively built upon the basis of pure ahimsa or non-violence in which force has no place.

* He conducted the whole struggle for Indian Independence on the basis of theory of non-violence with a remarkable success.

* State is the result of political consciousness State came into existence through the desire of the human beings to lead a peaceful and settled life.

According to Gilchrist, "The state, government and indeed all institutions are the result of man's consciousness, creations which have arisen from his appreciation of a moral end"

* Faulty application of the theory of survival of the fittest

The supporters of the theory defend the use of force on the doctrine of survival of the fittest. It means that might is right and those who are physically weak should go to the wall.

It is clearly a wrong application of the theory. It should be used to explain the evolution of animal life. Its use to explain the existence and end of the state is evidendy unscientific and irrational.

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Satya vrat yadav