Do We Need a Theory of the State?

• Published in: Archives européennes de sociologie. European journal of sociology. Vol. 18; no. 2; pp. 223 - 244
• Main Author: MACPHERSON, C. B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS 01-01-1977; Plon
• Subjects: Capital accumulation; Capital markets; Capitalism; Democracy; Democratic theory; Empiricism; Govern/Governing/Government/ Governmental/ Governments; Liberalism; Marx, Karl/Marxist/Marxism; Marxian economics; Plow; Pluralist school; Social science/Social sciences/Social scientific; Social theory/Social theories; State, The; State/States; WHITHER THE UNWITHERED STATE?; Workforce
• ISSN: 0003-9756; 1474-0583

Examined is the question of whether a theory of the state is needed (both normative & explanatory), in the grand tradition of Hobbes, Rousseau, Hegel, & Mill. Contemporary empirical theorists either do not need one, or are incapable of having one. Contemporary normative liberal theorists, eg, Rawls, do not need one. Social democrats & democratic socialists do need one, & so do contemporary Marxist theorists, & they (eg, Miliband, Poulantzas, Habermas, O'Connor) are working effectively toward one. More attention to certain implications of their findings is needed: (1) that the legitimation problem has already changed, (2) that a new pluralism has emerged, a pluralism in reverse, by which the state can pluralize capital, & (3) that the possibiilty of saving any liberal democracy depends on an understanding of the new pluralism. These implications reduce the distance between Marxists & social democrats. AA.