How does Marx define the state?

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yoda's walking stick
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Jul 17 2011 19:28
How does Marx define the state?

When he says the state will "wither away," what exactly does he mean?

Is he defining the state narrowly as an instrument of class domination? If so, does that simply mean that everyone will melt into a single, classless society, but government will remain?

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Android
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Jul 17 2011 21:08

I would recommend this excellent text.

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yoda's walking stick
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Jul 21 2011 11:39

helpful: http://www.www.socialistworker.org/2009/03/06/marxist-view-of-the-state

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Arbeiten's picture
Arbeiten
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Jul 21 2011 11:53

Bleurgh, that Socialist Worker article was shite Yoda! As usual, a discussion about 'anarchism' without any reference to any texts (only what Lenin, Marx and Engels said about the anarchists). The article posted by Android is much better!

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devoration1
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Jul 21 2011 13:08

The idea of the 'whitering away' does not apply to the state as we know it (and has existed) but the 'new' kind of state; the so-called 'Commune State' or 'transitional state' or 'semi-state' depending on which tendency you follow. As the world transitions more and more to socialist relations and modes of production, and the boundaries between remaining classes and strata are blurred and then erased through practice (working-class, remnents of the peasantry, professionals, lumpen/de-classed, petit-bourgeoisie, etc) the 'semi-state' will cease to be necessary. The working-class will no longer have to make sure its the primary factor directing society and working with other classes and strata when these divisions cease to exist through socialization.

Thats one version of one interpretation of the 'commune state'.

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Entdinglichung
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Jul 21 2011 13:24

http://www.marxists.org/archive/miliband/1965/xx/state.htm