328 THEORY AND ADMINISTRATION 



sometimes been the case, then there is reason for an investigation in 

 order that sound and beneficent theories may take the place of 

 those of the opposite character. 



Those who would attempt to discredit often do not know what is 

 the nature of political theory at present nor what has been its influ- 

 ence in the past; indeed, while decrying the theorist, they as prac- 

 tical men may be acting upon principles which the theorist has 

 enunciated, and their successes may be due to the correctness of 

 the theory or to its fitness for the conditions at the time existing. 



Again, problems of political relationship arising in consequence of 

 the growing importance of the state itself and the extension of its 

 powers in comparison with such institutions as the family and the 

 church have emphasized the importance of political theories. 



The growth of parties, schools, systems, governmental policies, 

 and the like, based upon theories makes necessary attentive study 

 of their bases. Many of these parties distinctly call themselves by 

 the theory name, as in the case of the " socialistic party/' the 

 " nationalist party," etc. The courts of justice often incline 

 toward a theory in accord with a political platform, and in some 

 cases judges are elected for the purpose of supporting a party theory. 



As the state is one of the most important of the products of human 

 association in its effects upon associated life and in its influence 

 upon the individual, there is a final and sufficient reason for the 

 mastery of the fundamental principles of its being, and with these 

 political theory purports to deal. 



Even this brief survey shows that political theory has a right to 

 exist and to claim respect, though it must always be admitted that 

 there may be false as well as true theories. 



Granting that political theory has a right to be, the next general 

 problem is one of subject-matter. 



One of the first difficulties in regard to the subject-matter is that 

 of discriminating between the political and non-political in the data 

 of human association. Much of the data relating to early human 

 association which has been used as a basis for political theorizing 

 is certainly very imperfectly understood, and in some cases the data 

 are not reliable for political theorizing, as they were gathered with 

 an entirely different purpose in view. 



Some writers speak of the Hebrew theocratic state, of primitive 

 states among aboriginal tribes, and of states bound only by family 

 ties or by clan relationships. If the organization prevailing among 

 the early Hebrews and these other early relationships are to be called 

 states, then the problem of dealing with these and modern states 

 under the same system of definitions becomes very difficult, even in 

 theory. The points of identity in organization between a savage 

 tribe and the British Empire would not be many, and to attempt to 



