How did the first states form? 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 a state?
An organization that has political power and certain mechanisms of control, coercion, and governance 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 have always existed. Every year new data appear in the field of ethnography and archeology, which leads to the emergence of new theories in this matter. So 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 changes in society lead to the formation of the state. The development of the production system affects the social structure. Social relations between people are changing, inequality appears. The more production develops, the greater the inequality it causes.
Irrigation theory
The author of the theory is the historian, sociologist and sinologist Karl Wittfogel. The scientist was a member of the German Communist Party and was interested in Marxism, so the irrigation theory largely reflects this idea. Wittfogel connects his hypothesis with the manifestation of despotism.
The essence of irrigation theory lies in the construction of special mechanisms that would control the flow and distribution of water in certain territories. In arid areas, structures should evenly distribute water, in wet areas, on the contrary, they should be restrained by drainage and dams. According to the author of the theory, this is the most appropriate way of farming in a pre-industrial society.
In this case, the state arises under the condition of the need to farm and organize joint labor. The use and maintenance of irrigation systems requires a great cohesion of the whole society. To do this, a small group of functionaries must maintain control over the contractors.
Irrigation Theory: Pros and Cons
Wittfogel's theory, like others, has a number of points that prove or disprove its possibility.
A positive aspect is the theoretical possibility of this hypothesis. It is based on well-known historical facts. The first states arose in river valleys and used an irrigation system to grow crops. The most famous ancient states are Sumer, Babylon, Ancient Egypt and China.
Irrigation theory mainly affects only a narrow number of eastern states located in river valleys. Only there, the use of irrigation was rational. It does not solve the problem of the emergence of mountain or steppe states, so we can talk about the locality of the theory.
The negative side is the clarification of the root cause. When considering the theory, the question arises of what happened before: the formation of the state with the need for farming or the idea of an irrigation system, as a result of which the need for the state arose.
Features of the irrigation state
Both entities were authoritarian, where the head was endowed with unlimited power. Wittfogel's irrigation theory implies the indispensable occurrence 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 supreme power over the population.
One of the consequences of such a system is the emergence of priesthood and a special attitude to the priest. The ebb and flow times, sowing periods are determined using astronomical observations and calendars. In such circumstances, the priest is the only "enlightened", which leads to his authority and control over other residents.
The author concludes that in such a state a class struggle or large proprietors cannot arise, since society is excessively suppressed by the ruling structure and is virtually powerless. The degree of freedom of the population increases, albeit not by much, with the power of the state.