This book, written by German sociologist and published in 1908 (English translation in 1914), is a classic of political sociology. It challenges the "social contract" theory and offers a more cynical, power-based origin story for how governments began. Here is the "story" of the state according to Oppenheimer: 1. The Two Ways to Live

The warriors decide to settle down. Instead of robbing the farmers once, they "protect" them from other raiders in exchange for a permanent tribute (taxes). This is the transition from . The conquerors become the nobility, and the conquered become the subjects or serfs. 4. The Development

Systems are built to keep track of the "surplus" wealth being taken.

To Oppenheimer, the State is essentially "the organization of the political means"—a tool used by a victorious group to systematically exploit a defeated group.

The State then evolves to make this exploitation look legitimate:

Oppenheimer starts by saying there are only two ways for humans to satisfy their needs:

The State did not begin because people sat around a campfire and agreed to follow rules for the common good. Instead, it was born from .