Two Alternative perspectives: Marxism and Liberation

Two Alternative perspectives: Marxism and Liberation By Stephen D. Krasner Reviewed by Adekunle In summary, this article analyses the interwoven relationship between capitalist economy and the activities of the state from two closely linked but a bit contradicting perspectives; instrumental and structural theories. The argument of the instrumentalist scholars emphasizes that the governmental behaviours are directly precipitated by the societal pressures. The argument which takes the form of a criticism analyses clearly the influence that the capitalists have on the government policies. The article went on to describe the state as a committee of bourgeoisie, since the state must conform to the wishes of the capitalist class. According to instrumentalists’ argument, the state is just a wheel that drives the interests of the bourgeoisie. However, the structuralists believe that the state is not controlled or influenced directly by the bourgeoisie but rather act independently, making the whole system work in cohesion. They see the decisions of the government as an attempt to control the economic and political contradictions in the whole system. The decisions of the government are meant to control political and economic debilities like under consumption, exploitation of labour, protection of the small enterprises and the likes. Moreover, this does not go to mean that the government under structuralism does not support the capitalist class. The government must follow an expansionary, an imperialist foreign policy. This would enable the capitalist class to expand and dominate oversea territories and this would also alleviate under consumption in the state. And also, according to Magdoff and O’Connor, the successes of capitalism largely depend on the acquisition of foreign territories and source of raw materials. And since the sustainability of state as a whole largely depend on the economy system, it is only normal that the state subscribe to the policies which would sustain the capitalists’ continuous progress. The autonomy of the state is necessary for the cohesion of the whole system.