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The document presents a comparison of various political theories regarding the role and legitimacy of the state, highlighting key scholars like Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, and others. It emphasizes the modern state's formation through a combination of war, law, social contracts, class struggles, and colonial legacies. The final reflection notes that the state serves different purposes, such as protecting rights in liberal traditions and maintaining order in authoritarian contexts.

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5 views1 page

Document Assignment

The document presents a comparison of various political theories regarding the role and legitimacy of the state, highlighting key scholars like Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx, and others. It emphasizes the modern state's formation through a combination of war, law, social contracts, class struggles, and colonial legacies. The final reflection notes that the state serves different purposes, such as protecting rights in liberal traditions and maintaining order in authoritarian contexts.

Uploaded by

mbasirumoses
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as RTF, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

📊 Comparison Table of Theories

Theory/Scholar Core Idea Deep Explanation Modern Impact

Hobbes (Social Contract) State prevents chaos Security > liberty Basis for authoritarian
legitimacy

Locke (Social Contract) Protect rights State as guardian of property Liberal democracy,
constitutionalism

Rousseau (Social Contract) General will State as moral community Participatory


democracy

Marx & Engels (Materialist) Class domination State protects ruling class Critique of
capitalism, socialism

Tilly (War Theory) War made states Bureaucracy from taxation Explains European state
formation

Weber (Legitimacy) Monopoly of force Authority must be accepted Modern definition of


sovereignty

Kelsen (Legal Theory) State = legal order Law institutionalizes power International law,
constitutionalism

Mamdani (Postcolonial) Colonial legacy Dual rule created weak states Explains African governance
struggles

✨ Final Reflection

The modern state is not the product of a single origin but a convergence of war, law, social contracts,
class struggles, and colonial impositions.

In Europe, war and taxation forged strong centralized states.

In liberal traditions, the state is a protector of rights.

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