Theories of State Function
See also: Corporatism and Elite theoryMost political theories of the state can roughly be classified into two categories. The first are known as "liberal" or "conservative" theories, which treat capitalism as a given, and then concentrate on the function of states in capitalist society. These theories tend to see the state as a neutral entity separated from society and the economy. Marxist theories on the other hand, see politics as intimately tied in with economic relations, and emphasize the relation between economic power and political power. They see the state as a partisan instrument that primarily serves the interests of the upper class.
Read more about this topic: Rulership
Famous quotes containing the words theories of, theories, state and/or function:
“The real trouble about women is that they must always go on trying to adapt themselves to mens theories of women, as they always have done. When a woman is thoroughly herself, she is being what her type of man wants her to be. When a woman is hysterical its because she doesnt quite know what to be, which pattern to follow, which mans picture of woman to live up to.”
—D.H. (David Herbert)
“Generalisation is necessary to the advancement of knowledge; but particularly is indispensable to the creations of the imagination. In proportion as men know more and think more they look less at individuals and more at classes. They therefore make better theories and worse poems.”
—Thomas Babington Macaulay (18001859)
“The Apache have a legend that the coyote brought them fire and that the bear in his hibernations communes with the spirits of the overworld and later imparts the wisdom gained thereby to the medicine men.”
—Administration in the State of Arizona, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“My function in life is not to be a politician in Parliament: it is to get something done.”
—Bernadette Devlin (b. 1947)