INTRODUCTORY

CHAPTER I

THE NATURE OF POLITICS

The Purpose of Government *

Sovereignty and Justice

The Use of Force

Laws and Facts

The Need for Change

States, Nations and Races

Distribution of Power in the State

THE PURPOSE OF GOVERNMENT*

It is the nature of man to live in communities. He lives in
this fashion in every part of the world to-day, and the evidence
of history and pre-liistory shows how long he has done so. The
reasons for this habit do not concern politics. Psychologists
consider that jman is moved by instincts and desires which can
only find full satisfaction in community life., and economists
point out that efficient production of wealth requires co-operation;
therefore there are great advantages to be gained 'by living
together, Politics starts with the fact of community life; it dis-
cusses the problems which that life creates; it also examines and
compares the different kinds of community*

The central problem is liberty. When people live in a com-
munity they cannot do exactly as they please. Motorists, for
example, cannot drive wherever they like without creating
disorder; neither can men kill or rob whomever they please
without causing society to collapse. But if men were not thus
restricted, if they had, in name, the liberty to do what they
, liked, they would, in fact, have very little liberty, Much of their
energy would be absorbed by the attempt to protect themselves,