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9780333724781

Marxism and the State An Analytical Approach

by
  • ISBN13:

    9780333724781

  • ISBN10:

    033372478X

  • Format: Hardcover
  • Copyright: 2005-08-20
  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
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Summary

Paul Wetherly provides a restatement and defence of the classical Marxist theory of the state, developing an analytical approach that draws on G.A. Cohen's functional interpretation of Marx's theory of history. Instrumentalist and structuralist arguments are conceived as related causal mechanisms within the functional approach, and the principle of economic determination is shown to be consistent with the relative autonomy of the state as an institution with its own interests and capacities. This old-fashioned interpretation is defended against rival approaches within contemporary Marxism, notably Jessop's strategic relational approach.

Author Biography

Paul Wetherly is Principal Lecturer in Politics and Public Policy, Leeds Metropolitan University.

Table of Contents

Preface ix
Introduction: The Theory of History and the State
1(9)
Marx, the State and Functional Explanation
10(17)
Introduction
10(3)
The state of The Communist Manifesto
13(2)
Primary and secondary themes?
15(10)
A theoretical synthesis?
25(2)
The Instrumentalist Thesis -- A Restatement
27(45)
Introduction
27(1)
The instrumentalist thesis
28(2)
The state as a `power container'
30(8)
Social forces and interests
38(3)
Class structure and class interests
41(6)
The possibility of a general theory
47(2)
The interests of capital in general
49(14)
State power
63(9)
Structure and Agency in State Theory
72(37)
Introduction
72(1)
Agency and structure aren't all there is
72(6)
The strategic-relational approach
78(5)
The structural constraint thesis
83(7)
Block and `business confidence'
90(4)
The `structural power' of capital
94(8)
Structure, agency and the state
102(7)
Base and Superstructure
109(21)
Introduction
109(1)
The nature of the economic structure
110(6)
The circuit of capital
116(6)
`Class interests' and `needs of capital'
122(6)
Classification of the interests of the capitalist class
128(2)
A Theory of the `Needs of Capital'
130(26)
Introduction
130(1)
The concept of need
130(3)
Needs of social systems
133(2)
Capitalism, the market and competition
135(3)
Accumulation and legitimisation
138(13)
Summary
151(5)
State Autonomy -- A Conceptual Framework
156(18)
Introduction -- the relative autonomy of the state
156(2)
The potential for state autonomy
158(5)
Functionalism and determinism
163(6)
State autonomy -- a conceptual framework
169(3)
Possible constraint types
172(2)
Constraints on the State -- Mechanisms of Economic Determination
174(22)
Introduction
174(1)
Mechanism 1 -- internal/personal
175(5)
Mechanism 2 -- internal/impersonal
180(5)
Mechanism 3 -- external/personal
185(4)
Mechanism 4 -- external/impersonal
189(5)
Summary
194(2)
Globalisation, History and the State
196(23)
Introduction -- the challenge of globalisation
196(1)
What is globalisation?
197(4)
Globalisation and the theory of history
201(9)
Globalisation and the state
210(9)
Notes 219(16)
Works cited 235(7)
Index 242

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