Zafar Iqbal
The divine theory of state is one of the oldest theories about the origin and legitimacy of the state. It emerged in ancient times, when people believed that the state was created by God or gods, and that the ruler was either a god himself, or a representative of God or gods on earth. The divine theory of state was prevalent in many ancient civilizations, such as Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, India, Greece, Rome, and Israel. The divine theory of state was also used to justify the absolute monarchy and the feudal system in medieval Europe, especially by the Catholic Church and the kings who claimed to have the divine right to rule. The divine theory of state was challenged by the Renaissance, the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and the democratic revolutions, which introduced new ideas of humanism, rationalism, natural rights, social contract, and popular sovereignty. The divine theory of state gradually lost its appeal and relevance in the modern world, where the state is based on secular, legal, and constitutional principles.
Socially, the divine theory of state has a significant impact on the social structure and relations of the society. According to the divine theory of state, the state is a sacred and supreme institution, and the ruler is the source of all authority and law. The people are obliged to obey the state and the ruler without question, and to accept their assigned roles and statuses in the society. The divine theory of state creates a hierarchical and rigid social order, where the people are divided into classes, castes, or estates, based on their birth, wealth, occupation, or religion. The divine theory of state also reinforces the patriarchal and paternalistic nature of the society, where the ruler is seen as the father of the nation, and the people are his children or subjects. The divine theory of state discourages any social change or mobility, and suppresses any dissent or resistance from the people.
Culturally, the divine theory of state is closely related to the cultural values and beliefs of the society. The divine theory of state reflects the religious and moral worldview of the society, and the state is seen as the embodiment and protector of the culture. The divine theory of state also influences the cultural expressions and practices of the society, such as art, literature, music, architecture, education, and rituals. The divine theory of state promotes a homogeneous and uniform culture, where the state and the ruler set the standards and norms for the society. The divine theory of state also fosters a sense of loyalty and devotion to the state and the ruler, and a sense of pride and identity for the nation. The divine theory of state may also create a sense of superiority and exclusivity for the culture, and a sense of hostility and intolerance for other cultures.
Philosophically, the divine theory of state is based on certain philosophical assumptions and arguments. The divine theory of state assumes that the state is a natural and necessary institution, and that the state is the best and only form of political organization. The divine theory of state argues that the state is established by God or gods, and that the state is the manifestation of the divine will and plan. The divine theory of state also claims that the ruler is chosen by God or gods, and that the ruler is endowed with the divine wisdom and power. The divine theory of state further contends that the state and the ruler have the right and duty to govern the society, and that the state and the ruler are the sources and guardians of the moral and legal order. The divine theory of state denies that the state and the ruler are subject to any human or natural laws, and that the state and the ruler are accountable to anyone but God or gods.
Politically, the divine theory of state has important implications for the political system and processes of the society. The divine theory of state implies that the state is a monarchical and autocratic form of government, and that the ruler is the absolute and sole sovereign of the state. The divine theory of state also implies that the state is a unitary and centralized form of administration, and that the ruler has the full and exclusive control over the territory and the resources of the state. The divine theory of state also implies that the state is a non-democratic and non-representative form of participation, and that the ruler does not consult or listen to the opinions or interests of the people. The divine theory of state also implies that the state is a coercive and oppressive form of enforcement, and that the ruler uses force and fear to maintain his authority and order.
As far as literary perspective is concerned, the divine theory of state is often reflected and criticized in various literary works and genres. The divine theory of state is expressed and glorified in many epic poems, such as the Iliad, the Odyssey, the Aeneid, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Shahnameh, which depict the heroic deeds and divine origins of the rulers and the states. The divine theory of state is also expressed and praised in many historical chronicles, such as the Bible, the Quran, the Analects, the Histories, and the Chronicles of the Kings of England, which narrate the divine interventions and providences of the rulers and the states. The divine theory of state is also expressed and questioned in many tragedies, such as Oedipus Rex, Antigone, Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear, which portray the tragic flaws and fates of the rulers and the states. The divine theory of state is also expressed and challenged in many satires, such as Gulliver’s Travels, Candide, Animal Farm, and Nineteen Eighty-Four, which expose the absurdities and injustices of the rulers and the states.
Then, academically, the divine theory of state is a subject of academic inquiry and debate in various disciplines and fields of study. The divine theory of state is studied and analyzed in political science, which examines the origin, nature, and functions of the state and the ruler, and the relationship between the state and the society. The divine theory of state is also studied and evaluated in philosophy, which explores the ethical, logical, and metaphysical foundations and implications of the state and the ruler, and the validity and soundness of the arguments for and against the state and the ruler. The divine theory of state is also studied and compared in history, which traces the development and evolution of the state and the ruler, and the impact and influence of the state and the ruler on the events and movements of the past. The divine theory of state is also studied and criticized in sociology, which investigates the effects and consequences of the state and the ruler on the social structure and relations, and the causes and responses of the social change and conflict.
Lastly, the comparative analysis describes the divine theory of the state as a common and universal phenomenon that can be found and contrasted in different times and places. The divine theory of state can be compared across different regions and cultures, such as the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and America, and the similarities and differences in the forms and expressions of the state and the ruler, and the roles and functions of the state and the ruler. The divine theory of state can also be compared across different religions and ideologies, such as Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Marxism, and the similarities and differences in the beliefs and values of the state and the ruler, and the sources and norms of the state and the ruler. The divine theory of state can also be compared across different periods and eras, such as the ancient, medieval, modern, and contemporary times, and the similarities and differences in the challenges and changes of the state and the ruler, and the continuity and transformation of the state and the ruler.
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