Yeah, sure it is. As Clastres correctly pointed out: "The state does not regulate violence. The state is the origin of violence."

But that's easy for me to say. I mean, I'm tall, agile, strong, and not easily intimidated. Few are likely to get the better of me in a physical confrontation.

With separating couples, it is not uncommon that the stronger party (usually, but not always, the male) tries to settle the matter by force, notwithstanding any agreements. In such circumstances, I don't disagree with the weaker party (usually, but not always, the woman) seeking the force of the state to counter that.

In a culture with an ethos where "the strong do what they will, and the weak suffer what they must ," the state has a useful equalizing role in the resort to force.