ABSTRACT
In order to conceptualise the modern Latin American state it is necessary to place it in a historical and theoretical context. State theorisation has a long history in Western philosophy and political economy, and ideas from both are important for the interpretation of current state formations in the light of longer-term changes in capitalist societies. One central theme in state theorisation, especially in terms of understanding the origins of the impersonal state, has been the notion of the social contract. A discussion relating to the social contract and how it plays a part in interpreting contemporary Latin American states is developed further in the following pages. The social contract is, however, only one theme within the state theory literature and it should be borne in mind that we do not attempt to discuss the full range of state theories here or to engage in a broader discussion of state theory per se. The intention is to apply a particular view of the state to contemporary Latin American affairs, on the basis that this view provides a more useful interpretation of how Latin American societies and their states are conceived and operate. This chapter initially presents a brief historical description of the development of the state, which is followed by a theoretical analysis of the state that leads to the particular argument that illuminates our perspective on the Latin American state. The third section discusses some of the main features of the Latin American state and thus contributes to the current debate on directions in contemporary Latin American politics.
