What set of circumstances brought the State? 4 different theories coming your way!!
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Transcript of 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
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.