The Theory of the State

Johann Kaspar Bluntschli

This is one of those works from which an extract has been taken for the CUWS because one of our primary texts refers to the same, in this case Sidgwick's The Elements of Politics.

At present, all we need of this text is the Book V on ``The Ends of the State'' as this is the part that Sidgwick refers to in Part 1 of The Elements of Politics. In part 2, Sidgwick also references Book 6 on the ``Forms of the State''. That book may be added at a later date.

A Note on the Text

This extract from Bluntschli's The Theory of the State was digitized from the 1885 Oxford translation of the Allgemeines Statslehre, that translation having been made by several Oxford dons from the fifth edition (1875) of Bluntschli's work.

Table of Contents

Book V

The Ends of the State

Chapter I. The State an End or a Means. How far is it End or Means?

• Ancient theory: the State as an end.
• Modern theory: the State as a means.
• Both these theories are one-sided.
• Danger of the ancient theory:
• and of the modern theory.
• Modern consideration of the individual.
• The State is a reality.
• The welfare of the State and the individual are inseparable.

Chapter II. False Views of the End of the State

1. That it is to maintain the ruling power.
2. That it is to carry out the divine will.
3. That it has to secure some external object.

Chapter III. Insufficient or Exaggerated Views of the End of the State

1. That its end is to secure the rights of person and property.
   • Defects of this view.
   • Its results.
2. That its end is to secure general happiness.
   • Harmful results of this view.

Chapter IV. The True End of the State

• There is only one general end of the State.
• `Justice' is too narrow.
• `Morality' is too wide.
• The `securing of the public welfare'
  • is not incorrect,
  • but is insufficient in times of crisis.
• The true definition.
• This general definition includes special tendencies,
  • e. g. the development of external power;
  • or of economic interests;
  • or of intellectual interests;
  • or of legal guarantees for freedom;
  • or of national unity.
• Indirect functions of the State.
• Limitations of State action.