The Idea of the State: a Genealogy

The podcast features a lecture by Quentin Skinner titled "The Idea of the State: A Genealogy," where he explores the historical evolution and various interpretations of the concept of the state within the Anglophone tradition. Skinner argues against a universally agreed-upon definition of the state, suggesting instead a genealogy that reveals competing theories, including absolutist, populist, and fictional views. He traces these theories through historical texts and thinkers, highlighting their implications for understanding the legitimacy of government actions. Skinner critiques the contemporary tendency to equate the state with a mere apparatus of government, advocating for a reconsideration of the fictional theory of the state, particularly its emphasis on the state as a distinct entity responsible for the welfare and security of its people, and its capacity to incur obligations, such as public debt, across generations.