エンゲルスの国家形成理論には，『反デューリング論』と『家族・私有財産・国家の起源』の2系列があり基本的な相違があるが，『起源』での考え方がより妥当と考える。エンゲルスは東アジアには言及しなかったが，日本での国家形成も，親族構造の変動と国家形成は密接に連動しており，『起源』モデルで理解できる。理論的問題として，歴史の決定要因，国家に先立つ社会における親族関係の規定性・被規定性の問題も検討した。
Engels presented two distinct and independent theories of state formation in Anti-Dühring and in The Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State. The latter of the two models seems more appropriate. Although Engels did not mention East Asia in his works, the state formation of Japan can also be explained through the latter theory as changes of structures of kinship and state formation were deeply connected in this region. In addition to the comprehensive issues related to state formation, this article also examines conceptual aspects such as factors influencing the formation of social structures, and probes whether kinship frameworks of prestate societies function as influencing factors.

特集 : マルクス主義におけるエンゲルスの貢献