State Formation: When and Why States Form (David Stasavage)

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There are many theories of state formation. These theories usually adhere to one of the following two views. According to the first view it is socially optimal to have a state. According to the second view, state formation involves domination by one individual or group over others. North (1981) refers to these as the “contract” and the “predatory or exploitation” views of the state. In this session we will consider several classic works on the subject.

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