Recent Research on the Origin of the State

To explain the origin of primary states-those which arise in a context of interacting prestate societies-has remained an objective of anthropologists since the publica­ tion of Morgan's Ancient Society (35) 100 years ago. It is a fundamental problem which, though it cannot have an ultimate solution, serves as a measure against which to evaluate the effectiveness of new perspectives and new methods. The centennial of Morgan's publication has not inspired comprehensive new explanatory theories or research insights, but it has been marked by a synthesis of past work, by provoca­ tive restatements of extant theoretical approaches, and by the testing of proposed explanations derived from these approaches utilizing new methods. This review begins with a commentary on a recent synthesis, discusses definitional problems, and assesses recent research on several cases of state development. In conclusion, it is argued that recent research has already obviated some of the positions taken in the synthesis and has clarified the directions which future theory-building and research must take.