Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?

Correct option is D

The pair "State is prior to man - Machiavelli" is not correctly matched. Machiavelli, a realist political thinker, emphasized the importance of statecraft and power in governance but did not assert that the state is prior to man. This idea aligns more with Aristotle, who argued that "man is a political animal" and that the state exists naturally and prior to the individual.
Explanation of Other Options:
1. (a) State represents organized violence - M. K. Gandhi:
· Correctly matched. Gandhi criticized the state as an instrument of coercion and referred to it as "organized violence."
2. (b) State is an expression of class struggle - Karl Marx:
· Correctly matched. Marx viewed the state as a tool for the ruling class to maintain its dominance and control, reflecting the outcomes of class struggles.
3. (c) State is an association of associations - Laski:
· Correctly matched. Laski, a pluralist thinker, described the state as a collective entity comprising various associations and groups.
4. (d) State is prior to man - Machiavelli:
· Incorrectly matched. This statement aligns with Aristotle's philosophy, not Machiavelli’s. Machiavelli focused on the pragmatic aspects of statecraft, emphasizing power and survival rather than metaphysical ideas about the origin of the state.
Information Booster:
1. M. K. Gandhi: Viewed the state as inherently coercive and emphasized self-rule (Swaraj).
2. Karl Marx: Analyzed the state through the lens of historical materialism, seeing it as a product of economic and class dynamics.
3. Harold Laski: Advocated for a pluralistic approach to politics, recognizing the role of multiple associations in governance.
4. Aristotle: Believed the state is natural and necessary, asserting its precedence over individuals.