Political Science 1020E Chapter Notes -For Marx, Instrumentalism, Bourgeoisie

• School: Western University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: Political Science 1020E
• Professor: Bruce Morrison

Document Summary

Purpose of the marxist theory of the state is not just to understand the capitalist state but to aid in its destruction. Marxist theories of the state offer a series of powerful and probing insights into the complex and dynamic relationship between state, economy and society in capitalist democracies, from which other theorists of the state can learn much. There is no more arduous task in the theory of the state than defining this notoriously elusive and rapidly moving target. The statecomes into existence insofar as the institutions needed to carry out the common functions of society require, for their continued maintenance, the separation of the power of forcible coercion from the general body of society. It implies that the state is an instrument in the hands of the ruling class for enforcing and guaranteeing the stability of the class structure itself.