Irrigation theory of the state. Essence and features

How were the first states formed? There is no consensus on this. Historians consider many different versions. One of them is the irrigation theory of the origin of the state. What is its essence?

What is the state?

An organization that has political power, certain mechanisms of control, coercion, and management is called the state. The concept includes a specific territory with its borders and the population living in this territory.

It is very difficult to trace the appearance of the first states. Some scientists, for example, believe that they always existed. Every year, new data appears in the field of ethnography and archeology, which leads to the emergence of new theories in this matter. Thus, the irrigation theory of the origin of the state was formed, as well as the organic, patriarchal, psychological, theory of violence, and others.

The main idea of most hypotheses is that the formation of the state is brought about by changes in society. The development of the production system affects the social structure. Social relations between people change, there is inequality. The more production develops, the greater the inequality it causes.

Irrigation theory

The author of the theory is the historian, sociologist and sinoologist Karl Wittfogel. The scientist was a member of the German Communist Party and was interested in Marxism, and therefore the irrigation theory largely reflects this idea. Wittfogel associates his hypothesis with the manifestation of despotism.

The essence of the irrigation theory lies in the construction of special mechanisms that would control the flow and distribution of water in certain areas. In arid areas, structures should evenly distribute water, in humid, on the contrary, contain by drainage and dams. According to the author of the theory, this is the most expedient way of doing business in a pre-industrial society.

In this case, the state arises in the condition of necessity to conduct agriculture and organize joint work. The use and maintenance of irrigation systems require a great coherence of the whole society. To do this, a small group of functionaries must control the work executors.

Irrigation theory: the pros and cons

The theory of Wittfogel, like others, has a number of provisions that prove or disprove its possibility.

As a positive aspect, one can call the theoretical possibility of this hypothesis. It is based on known historical facts. The first states arose in river valleys and used the irrigation system for growing crops. The most famous ancient states are Sumer, Babylon, Ancient Egypt and China.

Irrigation theory mainly affects only a narrow range of eastern states located in river valleys. Only there irrigation was rational. It does not solve the problem of the emergence of mountain or steppe states, so we can talk about the local nature of the theory.

And the root cause is also a negative side. When considering the theory, the question arises about what happened before: the formation of a state with the need for farming, or the idea of an irrigation system, as a result of which a need arose in the state.

Features of the irrigation state

Both formations were authoritarian, where the head was endowed with unlimited power. The Wittfogel irrigation theory presupposes the indispensable emergence of despotism on the part of the controlling structure. Most likely, labor in such a state will be forced. Functionaries, that is, managers, in turn, will be able to achieve higher power over the population.

One of the consequences of such a system is the emergence of the priesthood and a special attitude to the priest. Time of tides and periods of crops are determined by means of astronomical observations and calendars. In such conditions, the priest is the only "enlightened", which leads to his authority and control over the rest of the inhabitants.

The author concludes that in such a state there can not be a class struggle or large owners, since society is excessively suppressed by the ruling structure and is virtually unjustified. The degree of freedom of the population increases, albeit not much, with the strength of the state.