| Marx argued that the 'state' is an historical product, with specific conditions of existence. A 'state' is the necessary, independent embodiment of unity and community in disunified societies, standing apart from, and superior to, other social relations. If the conditions which create disunity are eliminated, there will be no basis for the existence of a 'state'.;There are three parts to my dissertation: (1) an exploration of the idea of the disappearance of the state as it developed in Marx's work as a whole, showing the continuity of concern (beginning in his critique of Hegel), his delineation of the broad bases of the state's existence, and the doctrine in its several formulations (this entails explicating Marx's conceptions of the "abolition of classes" and the "abolition of the division of labor" and their relation); (2) an examination of the frequent objections to this doctrine and the major interpretations and elaborations of the doctrine within the Marxist tradition; and, (3) a criticism and evaluation of Marx's doctrine in light of the problems of 'actually existing socialism'.;I conclude that Marx's specific portrayal of the disappearance of the state is inadequate. He underestimated the measures necessary for the creation of community and responsible decision-making under modern conditions of production. I further conclude, however, that there are possibilities for reducing the autonomy of the central administration, explored by Eastern European socialist theorists, which makes the doctrine more reasonable in a different formulation.;Marx believed that the primary (and conceptually related) causes of disunity in societies are (1) the existence of classes based on property, and (2) the existence of the division of labor. When classes and the division of labor are abolished under communism, a separate and superior embodiment of unity and community will no longer be necessary. When the central function of the state, that of maintaining unity, disappears, all other functions presently performed by the state can either be exercised collectively or performed by responsible agents. To the extent that this occurs, Marx said that the state's functions are "reabsorbed" by society. The creation of community and consequent 'reabsorption' of state functions is what Marx described as "the disappearance of the state." My dissertation is a reconstruction and evaluation of this doctrine. |
