Social Contract Theory of Origin of State: 

Social contract theory is very important in context of origin of state. According to this theory, state is not any divine institution. State is also not a result of long evolution process. State is the natural outcome of people’s political awareness. Thus, it is a man – made institution. It is the result of contract done by men among themselves.

According to this theory, man used to live without the institution of state during ancient times. That time can be referred as chaotic or natural state. Scholars differ on the issue of condition of men during those times. Some scholars call it an ideal state. Some think that human life was not safe during that time. Later on, men felt the need for the state. Thus, they all made a mutual contract and the state was originated.

Explanation of Social Contract Theory: 

Contract in Ancient India: 

Proofs of this theory are found in ancient Indian literature. It is mentioned in ‘Shantiparva’ of ‘Mahabharata’ that there was no state earlier, rather there was chaos. Irritated from such situation, men made a mutual contract and made ‘Manu’ their ruler. Acharya Chanakya also accepted the social contract theory. 

Chanakya had given the name of‘chaos’ to the situation prior to the state. He did not consider state as a divine organization rather he considered that state was created by human efforts and was a result of the agreement by the people and accepted by Manu (king). This theory was also mentioned in Jain and Buddhist literature.

Contract theory in Western Countries: 

This theory was first propounded in western countries by Greek sophist scholars. According to them, state was originated by contract among men. Plato and Aristotle considered state not to be an artificial, but a natural organization. According to them, man is naturally a social animal and public welfare is possible only through the organization of society.

Contract Theory in Modern Times: 

Many scholars in Europe from 16th to 18th century, propounded this theory in detail. Thomas Hobbes, Locke and Rousseau are the main among them.

According to Thomas Hobbes: 

There was state of nature before the origin of the state. Man was selfish and quarrelsome. He indulged in conflicts with others for his benefits and selfishness. Thus, the fear of insecurity of life and untimely death motivated man to end this natural and chaotic situation and established an organized political society. According to John Locke : Man used to live peacefully in the natural state.

He was completely free. All the people followed natural laws and laws of morality, but this state of nature could not last long as man had many discomforts, like what is right or wrong? What are the laws of nature? Finding it impossible to follow the natural laws in the absence of a mediator and decision – maker, men entered into a social contract and created the institution of state.

According to Rousseau: 

Man used to live in simplicity and freedom before the origin of the state. He had no knowledge of right-wrong, just – unjust or religious – irreligious. But gradually, with the increase in population, jealousy and mutual conflicts emerged, and all the peace and comfort came to an end. Result of that situation was that men felt the need of organising themselves into a state and entered into a contract. A general will was created by this contract and the state was originated.

Decline off Contract Theory: 

Decline of social contract theory started in 18th centary. Many scholars at that time raised their voice against this theory. David Hume was famous among these. In 19th century, Luthiway, Benthem, Henriman, Bluntschlli and Pollack etc. scholars criticized this theory on many grounds.