Bodin's Theory Of The State

Jean Bodin (1530-1596) is the political theorist in the sixteenth century. His contribution to the political thought is focused on his theory of state, especially on his theory of sovereignty. In this treatise, the author tries to explain his theory of state systematically, based on the former study. It will include the origin of state, conception of state, end of state, theory of sovereignty and so on . The aim is to make his theory of state more complete and analyze his place in the political thought as well.The eastern Europe in the sixteenth century was in such a condition:feudal society was collapsing and capital society was forming ,the political thinker at that time wanted to escape from the theology and church and found a new theory of state. At the same time in France, it suffered from the aggressive war and religious war , the feudalism was becoming stronger and stronger .Under such condition , it was required to strengthen the monarchy. Bodin agreed with it and said that the state possessed the sovereignty. lie regarded the sovereignty as the most important attribute of the state. In France, the monarchy was the best because in doing so that France could be united and order could be maintainedBodin's political thought is centered on his Six Books of Commonwealth which was published in 1576 in France. All the conclusions in it are based on his study and observation of history. Until the middle of the nineteenth century, his study method of induce and history was used commonly.The state in his theory was origined from family, it is a rightly ordered government of a number of families and of those things which are their common concern by a sovereign power . Its end is to maintenance a kind of order. Bodin's state has a most distinctive attribute, it is that the state owes the sovereignty which is an absolute power vested in a commonwealth. In the history of political thought, Bodin is the first to give the conception of state and through his explanation of his theory of sovereignty, he gets the modern abstract conception of state . It is the most important contribution of Bodin in the political thought . As for the regime, he approved the monarchy. In addition, he thought that climate played an important role in the country. The climate in France was suitable for monarchy.In this way, Bodin explained his theory of state systematically, although his writing style was not very good, there is also some confusion in it .A11 this can't influence Bodin's place in the history of modernpolitical thought . It is his theory of state that sets a foundation for the modern theory of state.