Three histories of the system of states

Abstract

An enduring question for social scientists concerns the origins of the system of states we currently live in. In this review paper, we aim to clarify the terms of the discussion by mapping out three different ways of periodizing its emergence. The first view is what we call the ‘millennial’ account of the system of states: it defines states and systems of states in the broadest fashion, identifying them as far back as the Bronze Age, if not earlier. The second and most famous position is the ‘early modern account’: it is grounded in the emergence of new actor categories like ‘state’ and ‘sovereignty,’ and points to major institutional developments pertaining to the fiscal-military apparatus. The third nascent position we present views the long nineteenth century as the birthplace of the system of states. Having mapped these accounts, we conclude by reflecting on their relation to one another.