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The Marxist Conception of the State: A Contribution to the Differentiation of the Sociological and the Juristic Method
This translation of Max Adler 's Die Staatsauffassung des Marxismus introduces English readers to an important and distinctive perspective on Marx 's theory of the state, formed through Adler 's experience of the tumultuous interwar period. Adler 's central target of critique is the notion of the law as the neutral arbiter of democratic society -- a notion which, Adler contends, collapses in the face of an adequate understanding of the ruling class in capitalist society. Beyond providing an important historical survey of arguments over the nature of law and democracy that were conducted between the two World Wars, The Marxist Conception of the State offers contemporary readers a primer for comprehending any truly democratic future state might entail.
243 pages, Paperback
Published September 15, 2020
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December 10, 2024
This book is a product of the 2nd international & Austrian Marxists & you can tell if you’re familiar with the collapse of the 2nd international.
It’s written as a critique of Hans Kelsen, an Austrian economist, it serves decently as a critique of the bourgeois conception of the state but not as support for Adler’s stance if you’re at all familiar with Marxist ideas.
Adler has grave misconceptions about how the proletarian state can come about considering what the bourgeois state represents. He shows a gross misunderstanding of the Russian Revolution, what led to it, how the Bolsheviks operated & its subsequent events. It betrays a lack of understanding of the material conditions in Russia as well as dialectical materialism.
If you want to understand the state from the Marxist perspective, Lenin’s State & Revolution & reading Marx, Engels, again Lenin & Trotsky are your best bet. This text should be read as not more than an intellectual curiosity, which perhaps is okay in non-revolutionary times or if by some accident of history, belief in parliamentary reforms & participation becomes widespread amongst Marxists in a similar manner. In other times, it should not be a priority.
It’s written as a critique of Hans Kelsen, an Austrian economist, it serves decently as a critique of the bourgeois conception of the state but not as support for Adler’s stance if you’re at all familiar with Marxist ideas.
Adler has grave misconceptions about how the proletarian state can come about considering what the bourgeois state represents. He shows a gross misunderstanding of the Russian Revolution, what led to it, how the Bolsheviks operated & its subsequent events. It betrays a lack of understanding of the material conditions in Russia as well as dialectical materialism.
If you want to understand the state from the Marxist perspective, Lenin’s State & Revolution & reading Marx, Engels, again Lenin & Trotsky are your best bet. This text should be read as not more than an intellectual curiosity, which perhaps is okay in non-revolutionary times or if by some accident of history, belief in parliamentary reforms & participation becomes widespread amongst Marxists in a similar manner. In other times, it should not be a priority.
Displaying 1 of 1 review