Political organization is to be understood as that part of social organization which constantly carries on directive restraining functions for public ends. …
That the cooperation into which men have gradually risen secures to them benefits which could not be secured while, in their primitive state, they acted singly, and that, as an indispensable means to this cooperation political organization has been, and is, advantageous, we shall see on contrasting the states of men who are not politically organized with the states of men who are politically organized in less or greater degrees.
Herbert SpencerAs the state arose from the need to keep class antagonisms in check, but also arose in the thick of the fight between the classes, it is normally the state of the most powerful, economically dominant, class which by its means becomes also the politically dominant class and so acquires new means of holding down and exploiting the oppressed class. The ancient state was, above all, the state of the slave owners for holding down the slaves.
Friedrich EngelsWhen there is no middle class, and the poor greatly exceed in number, troubles arise, and the state soon becomes to an end.
AristotleA decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.
Samuel JohnsonIt is easy to envisage government arising out of pristine anarchy to fulfill a collective need of the community (say, protection from a predator) or to coordinate hunting or other food-gathering activity.
Review the options below to login to check your access.
Log in with your Cambridge Higher Education account to check access.
If you believe you should have access to this content, please contact your institutional librarian or consult our FAQ page for further information about accessing our content.