ABSTRACT
Although his focus is on the modern state, Dumouchel does not overlook its archaic roots, pointing out, with reference to René Girard’s work, the parallel between ancient myth and modern social contract theory as justications of an institution that safeguards the peace of the community by expelling ‘bad’ violence with ‘good’ violence. e connection made here between mimetic theory and modern political philosophy is highly suggestive, and developed further, it could lend solid substance to Girard’s claim that human political and legal institutions, including modern ones, have their ultimate origin in archaic sacrice.2
