The Theory of State Emergence in Western Political Thought: Between Theoretical and Practical Rooting

Abstract

Objectives:This study aimed at identify the state's emergence theories in Western political thoughts.

Methods The study employs three interrelated approaches to examine the research problem. The approaches are historical, descriptive-analytical approach, and the structural-functional.

Results: The study concluded with a set of results, the most important of which is although intellectual propositions and theories through which the pioneers of Western political thought presented to justify state's existence; however, this did not contribute to developing a single intellectual theory that would be agreed on by Western thinkers

Conclusions: the study attempts to reveal whether theorizing the origin of the state in Western political thought contributes to developing a theory that provides an explanation of state's emergence. Meanwhile, the study sought to identifying the roots of state's concept, its constituent elements, and its functions. In the same context, it examines state's practical efforts, propositions, and intellectual theories through which Western thinkers tried to reach a clear interpretation of the idea of the state.