Theories on How Government Began
Historians have long theorized about the origin of the state and government. How did the first governments come to exist? While there are many theories about this, four prominent theories have emerged as the most likely scenarios of how the first governments came to exist thousands of years ago. These theories include:
Force Theory: According to this theory, government originated through the use of force and coercion. In early human societies, the strongest and most powerful individuals or groups imposed their will on others, establishing themselves as rulers and imposing their rule on the rest of the community.
Evolutionary Theory: This theory suggests that government evolved gradually over time, as societies grew larger and more complex. One family elder might have taken on an informal leadership role that evolved into leading an entire clan or tribe.
As human communities grew, they developed more sophisticated forms of organization to address social and economic needs. These early forms of government were often informal and based on custom or tradition.
Divine Right Theory: This theory holds that government is established and legitimized by a higher power, such as a deity or a divinely ordained monarch. Under this theory, rulers are believed to have a special relationship with the divine and are therefore entitled to rule by divine right.
Social Contract Theory: According to this theory, government is based on a social contract between the rulers and the ruled. The social contract is a hypothetical agreement in which individuals give up some of their freedoms in exchange for protection and security provided by the government.
Before governments existed, the strong took what they wanted and there was no authority to stop them. Therefore, humans created governments in which they gave up certain freedoms, money, or goods in exchange for safety. This theory suggests that government is a voluntary arrangement, and that individuals have a choice to participate in it or not.
All of these theories have been influential in shaping our understanding of how government originated and how it functions. However, it is likely that the true origins of government are complex and multifaceted, and that different factors have contributed to its development in different societies throughout history.