The State: Its History and Development Viewed Sociologically

"The State: Its History and Development Viewed Sociologically" by Franz Oppenheimer is a book that looks at how states started and changed over time using sociology. It argues that states mainly come from powerful groups conquering and controlling others, not from agreements or natural growth. The story shares a unique perspective on political systems and the social and economic things that affect them, making it an important work in both economics and sociology. Starting with looking at how we can understand the State by looking at it historically and sociologically, rejecting the belief that it is a natural or godly construct. Oppenheimer posits States were formed by class dynamics, with a main focus on control. Oppenheimer challenges ideas across philosophy, economics, and history, introducing "The State" sociologically as an organization wielding control over others by political actions, forming the basis for examining societies from basic organizations to modern political states.