30 SOCIAL SCIENTIST the term used by all conflict theoreticians. For instance, the basic thesis of the contemporary conflict theorist is: "Resolution of conflict of interest leads to a higher phase of equilibrium within the capitalist system." The words used by Marx is "to burst asunder", unlike the conflict theorists* desire for "resolution of conflict of interest9^. Thirdly, an important point of difference with Marx is the insistence of most theorists of the conflicting tendency as an essential part of an unchanging, eternal human nature. Marx sees conflict essentially as a product of society rather than as a causative factor of change. There are of course minor variations between one conflict theorist and another. My second hypothesis is that such variations in the conflict theme reflect the stage of development of capitalism in the different socio-conomic formations (social structure) in which a theorist lives and theorizes. Regardless of differences in perception, it is my fundamental thesis that conflict theorists voice the needs of their masters, the bourgeoisie, and they appear at crucial periods, of stalemate or change, to do their duty. Power of the Realm The present analysis of the conflict school begins with Europe of the fifteenth century when feudal polity could no longer cope with the emerging economy, which was qualitatively different from the old. It was the period of commercial capitalism's growth, its ideological reflection being mercantilism. The need of a political theory for the economic development and change was met by the conflict theorists. Development of commercial capitalism called for state intervention the legitimacy of which became an essential part of mercantilist doctrine. If our hypothesis holds good, then it is not a matter of surprise that the first modern conflict theorist is Machiavelli. Nor is it a sheer coin< cidcnce that the earliest development of capitalism took place fir3t in Italy. Close on the heels of Machiavelli comes Bodin, who is deliberately presented as a pure political thinker. Liberal thinkers separate economy and polity in a wilful attempt not only to theoretically delink interacting institutions, but to present political ideas as initiators of economic change. National unification, in turn, gave a boost to the development of commercial capital and the growth of mercantilist theory. Mercantilists of this period demanded the end of feudal anarchy in the shape of decentralized political power. They wanted to replace it with a state strong enough to protect their trading interests and to break down medieval barriers to commercial expansion. It was commercial capital that financed international trade. Growth of international trade led to rivalry between monopoly trading companies. Rival interests demanded state protection and in turn were willing to compensate the state. Such a stand had to be rationalized. The mercantilist policy therefore tended to identify "merchant profits with national good".8 In other words they opted for strengthening the power of the realm.