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Force Theory Of Origin Of State
The Statement of the Theory. Force Theory of origin of state is another
fallacious theory, but historically important, which is offered as an
explanation of the origin and meaning of the State. There is an old saying
that war beget the king and true to this maxim, the theory of Force
emphasizes the origin of the State in the subordination of the weak to the
strong. The advocates of the theory argue that man, apart from being a
social animal is bellicose by nature. There is also a lust for power in him.
Both these desires prompt him to exhibit his strength and in the early
stages of the development of mankind a person physically stronger than
the rest captured and enslaved the weak. He collected in this way a band of
followers, fought with others, and subjugated the weak.
Force Theory Of Origin Of State

Having increased the number of his followers, over whom he exercised
undisputed authority, he became a tribal chief. A clan fought against a clan
and a tribe against a tribe. The, powerful conquered the weak and this
process of conquest and domination continued till the Victorious tribe
secured control over a definite territory of a considerable size under the
sway of its tribal chief, who proclaimed himself the King. Leacock gives a
matter of fact explanation of the Force Theory when he says that
historically it means that government is the outcome of human aggression,
that the beginnings of the State are to be sought in the capture and
enslavement of man by man, in the conquest and subjugation of feebler
tribes and generally speaking in the self seeking domination acquired by
superior physical force. The progressive growth from tribe to kingdom,
and from kingdom to empire is but a continuation of the same process.
The theory, in from tells us that the State is primarily the result of forcible
subjugation through long continued Warfare, among primitive groups and
historically speaking, as Jenks says, “there is not the slightest difficulty in
proving that all political communities of the modern type owe their
existence to successful warfare.”
Once the State had been established, force, which had hitherto been
utilized for subjugating others. Was used as an instrument for maintaining
internal order and making it secure from any kind of external aggression.
But this alone was not sufficient. Force was used as the sinews of war and
power and a bid for superiority, one State fought against
another,eliminating the weaker and only those survived which either could
not be conquered, or no venture was made to conquer them as they were
comparatively Powerful. The theory of Force, therefore, traces the origin
and development of the State to conquest and justices its authority,by the
proposition that might is right.
The theory has, thus, four Implications. First, force is not only a historical
factor, but is the present essential feature of the State secondly, that the
States were born of force only thirdly, that power is their justification
and raison d’etre and, finally, that the maintenance and extension of power
within and without is the sole aim of the State.
Theory used in support of diverse purposes.

The theory of Force has been advanced by different thinkers and writers
for advocating their own point of view. It was first used by the Church
Fathers in the medieval period to discredit the State, and to establish the
supremacy of the Church. They claimed that the Church was divinely
created whereas the State was the outcome of brute force. Gregory
VII wrote in 1080; “Which of us is ignorant that kings and lords have had
their origin in those who, ignorant of God, by arrogance, rapine, perfidy,
slaughter, by every crime which the devil agitating as the prince of the
world, have continued to rule over their fellowmen with blind cupidity and
intolerable presumption.”
In modern times the Individualists owned the theory to protect individual

liberty against government encroachment. They characteristic the State as
a necessary evil and argued that the State should leaf the individual
alone, laissez faire, and should not interfere in what he does, except for the
maintenance of internal peace and external security. The Individualists
base their arguments on the principle of survival of the fittest and try to
prove that it is only the strong who survive and the weak go to the wall.
The Socialists, on the other hand, hold that the State is the outcome of the
process of aggressive exploitation on the weaker by the stronger the latter
constituting the propertied class who had ever manned administration and
directed the machinery of the government to their own benefit. The
existing system of industrial organization, it is maintained, hinges upon
force because a part of the community has succeeded in defrauding their
fellows of the just reward of their labor. They further argue that force is
the origin of civil society and government represents merely the coercive
organization which tends to curb and exploit the working class in order to
maintain the privileged position of the propertied class. The theory of
Socialism is a revolt against the State, as it is the product of force and
power is its justification and raison d etre. Karl Marx, accordingly,
concluded that the State must ultimately ‘wither away’.
During recent times the theory of Force was a favorite theme of political
philosophy with German writers. Imbued with the desire to make their
country a Greater Germany, and at the peak of its glory, they lavished
praise on force and considered its indiscriminate use as the most important
factor for the solidarity of the nation. Treitschke said that “the State is the
public power of offense and defense, the first task of which is the making
of war and the administration of justice,” War, he said, consolidates a
people, reveals to each individual his relative unimportant, causes factional
hostilities to disappear, and intensifies patriotism and national idealism.
“The grandeur of history,” he further maintained, “lies in the perpetual
conflict of nations” and “the appeal to am will be valid until the end of
history.” General Von Bernhardt held might as “the supreme right, and the
dispute as to what is right is decided by the arbitrament of war. War gives
a biologically just decision, since the decision, rests on the very nature of
things.” Nietzsche preached the doctrine of the will to power and the
superman.
The individual who can command the highest admiration, according to this
doctrine, is the strong man who compels other men to act in fulfillment of
his will. Nietzsche, while glorifying the masterly virtues of man, says that
a truly moral person has no place for the vulgar and slavish virtue of
humility, self sacrifice, pity, gentleness. Hitler and Mussolini put into real
practice the doctrines of these writers. They regarded force as the normal
means for maintaining a nation’s prestige, cultural influence, commercial
supremacy in the world and for holding the allegiance of citizens at home.
This general doctrine of political authoritarianism, both with Hitler and
Mussolini, became a creed of dominance by intimidation militancy in
international relations, and forcible suppression of political dissent in
domestic government. Hitler and Mussolini pushed mankind into another
World War, causing unprecedented misery,havoc and destruction. The
United Nations Organization was established after the War to save the
succeeding generations from the I scourge of war. Yet there is no end to
war. There is a show of might everywhere and a never ending race
between all powers, big and small, to invent and manufacture deadly
weapons of warfare, some to defend, others to offend.
Criticism of the Theory.

Force indeed, has played an important part in the origin and development
of the State some of the greatest empires of today have been established
through blood and iron. We may see even more of this blood and iron in
the days to come. Force is an essential element Of the State. Internally, the
State requires force to ensure Obedience to its commands. Externally, it is
necessary to repel aggression and to preserve the integrity of the State.
Without force no State can exist and sovereignty of the State always rests
ultimately on force. Kant said, “Even a population of devils would find it
to their advantage to establish a coercive State by general consent.”
But, all this does not sufficiently explain the origin of the State. Force is,
no doubt, one of the factors which contributed to the evolution of the
State. It is however, not the only one, nor the most important factor, and
the theory of force errs in magnifying What has been only one factor in the
evolution of society into the sole controlling force. Force is, also, not the
only basis of the State. Something other than, force is necessary in binding
the people together. It is will, not force, Which is the real basis of the
State. Sheer force can hold nothing together because force always disrupts
unless it is made subservient to common will. Force we do need in
maintaining the State but its indiscriminate use cannot be permitted. It
must be used as a medicine and not a daily diet as force is the criterion of
the State and not its essence If it becomes the essence of the State, the
State will last so long as force can last. Indiscriminate use of force has
always been the former of revolutions, overthrowing governments which
rest on force. Since he State is a permanent institution, only moral force
can be its permanent foundation.
T.H. Green has aptly said that it is not coercive power as such but coercive
power exercised according to law, written or unwritten, for maintenance of
the existing rights from external or internal invasions, that makes a State
Might with rights is as lasting as human minds on which it depends.
Moreover the Theory of Force unduly emphasizes the principle of the

survival of the fittest. It means that might is right and those who are
physically weak should go to the wall. It is dangerous to employ such a
principle in the internal existence of the State Might without right is
antagonistic to individual liberty. The State is duly bound to protect
equally the weak and the strong and create equal opportunities for all.
Externally if might is the supreme right, and the dispute as to what is right
is decided by the arbitrament of war, there can be no international peace.
Every State will be at perpetual War with the rest. This is a condition of
chaos, pure and simple,endangering the peace and security of the world.
The attention and efforts of every State will be directed towards war
preparedness and to win the war, if it comes. War, which is an alias for
murder, glorifies brute force, suppressing the moral forces. This is the
mean self of man and not his real sell. Is this the end for which the State
exists

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Force Theory Of Origin Of State

Theory used in support of diverse purposes.

In modern times the Individualists owned the theory to protect individual

Criticism of the Theory.

Moreover the Theory of Force unduly emphasizes the principle of the

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