How Did The Modern State Come Into Being?

The modern state is an important achievement in the political development of human society and has incomparable advantages compared with all kinds of pre-modern political forms.The formation of the modern state has always been an important political issue in politics.The study of the origin of the state,especially the formation of the modern state,is of great significance for thinking about the role and function of the state at present and in the future.Therefore,this paper focuses on Richard Lachmann’s thoughts on the formation of modern states,systematically combs his thoughts,and then comprehensively grasps and evaluates his thoughts on the formation of modern states,and excavates its intrinsic value and significance.Richard Lachmann’s research on the thought of modern state formation was developed and perfected on the basis of criticizing and inheriting the existing thought of modern state formation.Richard Lachmann believes that the formation of a modern country is a process in which various previously independent elites enter the country and bring institutional resources controlled by them into the country,so that the country can expand its power and become the Leviathan of modern society instead of other intermediate social organizations.The deconstruction and reconstruction of elite relationship structure determine the formation process of a modern state.As for the driving subject that promotes the formation of the modern state,Richard Lachmann believes that it is the elite group,which has the triple attributes of "self-interest","for itself" and "pluralism".In Richard Lachmann’s opinion,the formation time of the modern state is the breakup of feudal elite structure caused by the impact of "external forces" on the relationship structure of the feudal elite.As for the path to the formation of the modern state,Richard Lachmann believes that the dividing criterion is the diversity and uniformity of the elite group that controls the land and exploits the peasants.Based on this,this paper summarizes it as the path of "noble elite recombination--modern state" from the perspective of single elite and the path of "horizontal absolutism--modern state" and "vertical absolutism--modern state" from the perspective of multiple elites.This paper systematically combs and deeply studies the elite struggle model of Richard Lachmann’s thoughts on the formation of modern states.On the theoretical level,firstly,this paper can systematically organize and present Richard Lachmannn’s fragmented thoughts on the formation of modern states,which helps us to think about the internal logic of the formation of modern states from the perspective of elite struggle,and clarify the driving subject,opportunity and path of the formation of modern states.Secondly,the study of Richard Lachmann’s thoughts on the formation of modern states is more helpful to further clarify the significance and unique value of his thoughts on the understanding of the formation of modern states,find out his theoretical positioning,and enrich and enrich the whole theoretical research system of the formation of modern states.Finally,the study of Richard Lachmann’s thoughts on the formation of modern states is beneficial to provide us with a new research perspective and promote the localization of the theory of the formation of modern states.On the practical level,it can provide us with a different perspective to observe and study the formation path and motivation of other modern countries in the world.It is helpful to understand the modern state from different angles in realpolitik.Of course,this study also faces some problems.For example,Richard Lachmann’s definition of the connotation of "modern state" has its universality and particularity in his thoughtful frame of the formation of the modern state.Therefore,it is necessary to carry out detailed and specific grasp in the process of research according to the research content.In addition,Richard Lachmann’s modern state-forming theory based on European experience also has problems of explanatory power and explanatory scope.Therefore,while studying a specific historical model,this paper pays more attention to finding similarities and differences in the process of state formation and causal mechanism in different cases.In a word,we should rationally view Richard Lachmann’s thoughts on the formation of modern states from the perspective of social elites,not only to see the contribution,value and significance of his thoughts,but also to see its shortcomings.On the basis of fully interpreting its thought and theory,it carries on the targeted migration,interprets the formation logic of China’s modern state according to local conditions,and then promotes the further study of China’s modern state formation considered.