Social Sciences, ed. by
Robin Blackburn, Fontane, 1972
43 Reprinted fom Ideology and the
‘The Problem of the
Capitalist State
11
NICOS POULANTZAS
tn his ook The Staten Capita Soc Landon, 96) Rae
aa a ea iterate and documented ecount of
Al es power in ourgeat democracies. 1
Tn olny ond ale Milind deat hei
aan aoa mbad ead sbsance wich th BOOK
reed fo ret they.
i et eae ech politica theory tthe Sorbonne ot
eee et owe aod Social Chase (UK 972)
sah bans recenty polished work The tte in Copii
ah Mind rene copa prance, The ook
‘Bete aad cnn cen be eames
few abs anne Te cl comment th ee that
kan cn ance Hara ey. on he
Fo ee nich Mart teary ponies sl 6th
1 ee ins ih the means of om terol
Fee een dpe ote that my ae Wl 9
tar tang me sraten ote ues of he
St ee om epg pation presen
Bek die om ths Nyy
ee aya ete amd of pola power as
ana’ book ors ach a Grams eed elected By Mare
2 eS ec asim of ire
| EeeERin ket he wrnglsmovemen ears
1 Weel and Noon, London 96
MSc aes ae
The Problem ofthe Copal Soe 238
msl his weet ae apparent than re above al ue
Pear pina corel was te apa
a ee nim ich the scomy nt ony os
pe eStcmnat teat stance, ut 0 the dom
a forex be ews! mde of pron
Tice i he anon aie ee fe
rian orc San tr cone on he
vrata 2 ete cpa mde of protection, a i ot
Sram en te ter ve of sch 5 the Sate: Be
Seid se eel ough tli he xonomy
(ert inte panes of Capt 0 Factory epson
(or cram eta iret mveved in et pl
ei queston ofthe Sate oly I ee
nese det eo, seco ue a Reveution. Whi So
ay ere pert aaa ean of Hs 4x such a
Te Bevel of Captian in Ras
iw yn te me owen ay of
S25 Cain te enyneg Here t wold aan, with ll
dt er eau, the alain thea: te absence of 4
ae es served fm tect ate dominant 2
S38 tae Imarnonals was 2 Gea, economist.
SE ey ccmpanieg by a tence OF Fevaltonsly
hh a eee when Hees 4 MICH Ot
SEER ete foo ef econo conde hat het
Tangri ety smog te Sia ae ne eprben
te ci woth ecnamteTheeby a speci
SPE emesis, ret ih eam,
oe a ey chge i he sal sytem hagens Bet
SPU conor anda piel acton soul have the
oi mci otpcre Once eam» secesy|
SEU ie sundan tas comme leads er Wo 1
Benes ttc omanian, orto forms of els such a
a ers tein showed the penal eet ot
eee acton i ste pone? an he Neary
rete sy sat revelation Is he destucon of Oe
‘ogc State aperat.
re Pe anece of reveuiosty SUEY ae
cer ap niemianal They ares trun the
‘iene en Ca40 Nios Poulet an Ralph Milberd
the Comintern probably from ga, was nevertes the me
es coe od ence of x revoltonay say. THs He
SSO Whe pr of the Camere asso of
aero ere teen or theory of te Site in he Tid
ee a this rettan conomism biece a tesey
ra A yethane nowhere move event than 10
oats pecely where te Comme bad mont
se hers ofthe Sate Conran fs concrete
ihc fnt ane ea i, Ses Oe pe 7m
ote ot ples mete ice the reuans betwee
RES prt and Ge Commit Far in te USS
Uh site ae amon San Contin of 19361035
nto rene at ay of the Ste remained f°
Theron porecelee we e
Er ce cht iba work helps 9 overcame
agen er amaye the cae when a sete Tey
RITTEE Stes cancpmons of me Sate and of pobca
i nth tr ce
sre nate naa er
Te Sukarno
Hales dae eine tae pee
se ondeat twa coma oe
ire ny cacti te
ier aa ate ose
SS in ace Sen
a vert [am only the mate conscious of the necessity for Con
Seater 9 pec ty
nln oh eae one er
5 See ee
tar cay al te sate a buch, AOU Hi constantly
we Mepci im is work, He takes i asa sort of ven 1 ‘order
(efeny to hourpeas lesoues thea nf
SEP 0 Peay beeve that Miband i ron.
gh Hee ca ion of bps Hn he ore
‘The robem othe Copal state 248
cexyoon of + seme cour et nacuoes: above all
fntdoma te the teary ofthe Stat, whee 3 Marat hoy.
{Swen seen has ett be contact. one hse
imyenion tat in sbence ete eas land wo atc bos
{ft elogs of ie Ste whe plscng Mine on the ow
{Erin inesd of doping te epstomoloial train and
‘Shrine these Tapes tothe citgoe of Marat sccce
Ep demorsuning thr madeqacy tothe sea os Mire 6,
‘oui nthe Tier of SurplrVaueibsnd apeas
Si ph tis of oe tel
Show that never possible simply to oppose concrete fat
‘ecco bu hat these mtb aached by ber ar
Concepts saned ina diferent problema Fr ts ly By
Inean ef theze new concepts tat Ue oi notions can e cn |
ome with concer
Tras take simple example Artacing the prevaling notion
cf ‘plural ees whose Meio fnetion 1st ny the
uitence ofan cls oes ep. which he spore
Ata a the paraty a ies dvs not encode te
tec fa aling cfr precy these ees at ope
‘Secs dss ti lowe 0 Boomers response to We
‘isto Now: win ha replying fo the avery
SNe Vy. ove paces onl on hs rout td tery He
undeg nthe swsmp of hi eoiglimaginntion thas
lng stentie expnaton of he cts. What Mand
Totes uc neces preimiay of 3 cigue of the eoege
‘Mtnton of ele tte hehe of the scl concepts of
Mbt thay. Had tie erigue teen made It would ave
rien atthe corte eit conrled by the noon
(pera cero aling ees the actos of scl the
‘egemoni cts the govering ls, the Sate aparau—can
ny be png i he very mtn of ete rele For coe
‘Shes anl nouns ae never snccen ad by erplying the
eect ener em hn one es
nd pers psec Every tion or concep nly at
‘Maing wins woke theoreti probate tat owns
‘rset ts poslemate sd pore ‘wot
Murs, they hive absoitey unconvoable eect. They
Miva sult wen eu expe, and constant a oud
‘ng salen amas In he extreme ce, ane can eo
‘Shstinaly and areptously contaminated by the VeyI
{
cet 9
a2 Nicos Putts nd apt Mian
vrvaemolapca pips of headers, tat 1 4, he
coil oar the concen wich bare ne Dh
Fee soe eteing them sly refurb He
thera cea fr ti hen noon 2 weston
face Th te toscana, Mapua, bt of
met et sung the we mae of Masi ee
Newt Nba? 1 oot tte ta the ce
enn PS rcedare ve ne 0 fT AEROS
Sa Ese band sometines lows Nel
a as ht cy tne metoatogl piles of he
1 ana is manent Very ney. | woul 9
avery om Pe isis that band has in cm
that le esse aie Sete,
ening ole eaten of Fela comme
she schon cn hone ans, ae 8 he Woe
sarc and 2 hanger ian constantly gee
a Tea hn sl eso WDE 8 SE
iar ern rebons tat he SU
ey ree rca ofthe mabe of he BEE
ic tae he eat a ae
our ha cet senate Ute el ruc
schon eter eons of aunt cemponne S20
we gd consi the ae OA
ue ad ne eer rice i Hew Lal Revi
Taha inset ans to me wo ceive om 2 pole
ha concer as hod constant repercnsos te
or io rue cri Ths probes
aor ot Moe arma ee ae mk om,
agent of» Peeve tone they ae fo Mar, Ba
ihe ares oc lhe vel fhe al whl, TMS
ashe eo retro Indu 26 the EN
a reper opel rec hes aly, no
si atom eee cores ta eerie et
2 ac ses ae he comes, te
Man of nen) Gor the ear or Ral explains
enh sf conc of he dal
founded oh ve te sects of te probe bth
Ths nto gay funcnalon To anor
ol weer gee Mar tee 1 i
The Probem of the Copan Sate 248
the pte pcs of he aver aw
dus moe coms sme of the eoscrete hemes of Minds
tect in hep of ts peamble
1. Me fle peoblem of monegeraism
see rc es en, yt
Sia se a palsies
eon sei a nt
soe catamaran ne ee
sere ise ert
Sule ns ecco
Se toad i ie ae ee
Fak Sine ne cues oet
Sein Gera ios ene
Cocmiaricaeet geesdiannrs
Be eh naar eo
ecg ee Sas ee
petty oat sone
Titeaiet eg
secant pr an
pared aay tne ote
ecretensm yg
TEcheches rate nese ra
“and the ownership of the means of production. Teahould berzosond Ralph Milband
Else spi ale
treat ners
orcs a0 thet Pov
weet wets
Sieetho characte
“Rest earter an
Teneen the soi
‘ing soe sem 3
Maeva the con
“pai no a7
fmanogersFurtbet
ic bat only te
singe nthe 1
ee ch may BO
mie propery
by Mare felt
From tis pi tomate ap cas Ml
ie
hon Farin ee
(remingo which hs
See eat
Sustene aierees,
onan
eed tv ang What
esate direc a
sn verging sins but
iy noting be il
0 oma cpl. Te rb
nom eter bt
a
<2 ram, ewe
rong ext 90%
98T
Some apa
commie Soe, 208
ith ne
he Protem of the Copal siete 145
ee ete
ae haven ete arch
Beir es etc et
torctiai rete epg ent
Se bunt dace ice Yo
St At tin a re
container See
irc iel tie eee bat
Waly ts tment
coh che nae ct
i chan ce
feces cements ees
Sermon a abi rene
re ce ete
iSeries elas sta me
tie gietraaarnal eee
SG cei ie i eta
Steet alee tin dnd
tea emsing e f
wee ue errs st
Sinise we erieac na
ee ets ema oe
ieciamubstaeoestatndemee
eae ic te
cere niece ereafactnee
Sec eran
Sani Scthatice emetic
ric einapetgemenrsnng
ect amtrh cet sett
SESE Shreheenoct te de
HSER ane
fea
Y 22er
146 Nico Poult an Ralph Miliband
In orer to esish the eoacdence It would have been
ite mate enlist ie tle ol the Sot as a ecie
Tine Tegal ctr, of the soci whole, Mbng
Somat Sit reduce he rol fe Sate to the cont
sey tekout ef the members ofthe Sate pouatn™ I
Uhone hod fo eae that the’ Siate recat the
Tver of coher foc lrotion and the fra ete
tial te condom ol production of 9 sytem tat Wal
SEctmine te daminaon of ne as ove the eters, De would
ESERIES Sean hae the pacpaton whether ect of
Ire fc ge nm ny cha hg
Scene fave te copia oe can po fre
ees a tha he ein Ste bes server ern
Gh capt is oly when he member cls not
ee rca n the Ste apart, Ot ty Whe
Beri cay ct he pote povering cls. Tis
Be Cet mening of Masts analy of intently
Eigse tl Bomacan Coraoy sy ting of Boop
EARS dace eso what and hams sens 0 Set
[ih snanses of uaisdemonate governments
We Zome vow te tc problem af the embers ofthe Sate
pyro that 1 y teary the pole the ular ad
rene brewer ond sain ine fae
et yo een te Felton between the conde of
Be icnber of te Sate spparts and te interes of he
(eta by cemonsaug ether tat he socal erin of
Diebpservans ee Sate that of the Fling clas at
1 meres of te Sate appratis end up united oti cas
IR fuente Ts sppench, without being ae, emai
fine se pry ee arene me
seer tpn pce that he Sate appara preset
UC pechiem et tureucacy According to Marx, Eng a
teen enters ofthe Sate partes, which es conve
Len eae huenucroy' im the general sense, constote +
la eal entepy 00k ace Ths means ba aoe
Pemcmber ofthe se apparates belong, by Uc las
mc score toa specie neal
‘Sith Tee cay opal sation=eceer nto te bade
a prt ta which ener thee ls pos
Fan ay inc ct tha they beams precy the
ote SBebces an tatty havea ther fective Ton
etd pp ohne. 1elNd p96 lt PAS
‘Thefratiem othe Capali Sate 247
the sczalation ofthe role ofthe State Ts in ts tum means
tha he bueccy 2 spec an eae “ote socal
ucgny. ibe savant of he rng clas nt by eso of
e200 eis, whch ave avegent or by enon of Hs per
"eins ite tlie cls, bat by reson ef he fat |
“ners unity Gees iom Rectan of he be
ea te he ty of ale el an |
‘inte net of berlin ls
Import consequence Slow forthe celebrated problem of
‘ne ine aotoamy ef te Sate wih spect to te rally
‘hss and ths for the eqely elated qeson of tere
{he sutonamy of te baneueracy ae spcie So Category
‘Sih’ npete to that cas Along Manus wodton hs cm
‘ced that te tae sony 2 imple oo instrument mane
ch my the rang Gs 1 0 ot mea oy tha Mi
‘id ent Oe ap wb makes epost account
Feet comple neha of the State nf lan ols
‘Sree However fone eats the lstonp beeen he
‘Shitond the rallg cei the soci eign of the membes
ithe Sate partes thelr nerpersnal elas ih
th mes cnn at he arene ict
fEmon anor of i wi ee cs i
iors dented Bonparsm she Welion ef he bougeote
Iw'sher ord as chuscteenic of al ome of the ep
Soe feShowed at thi Sate eon oly tly seve the ung
‘as ino for as Ws rbuvey autonomous om the dere
tation of hela, precy nore to bes wo rane
‘Sor hilton nly admit his autonomy onl Ine exten
he osc The qeton posed s whether te ssn
haa re at mk nd
1s The branches of the State apparatus
ion’ approach thus to» caren extent prevents him fom
felon ng tous rigors anaes of te Sate apart
reaion ofthe lions betwen erent ache par
{Tihs appara hbo tcoey eases that te Sate
Stporsar nw only contated by te pvermment ut ao
mony ofthe whole of hs cla es mo by chance)
1%
§
ee1A Nicos Poland alps Mind
suc ances sich 5h army tl. he a
by grec bn can, Yet wit tat even
2rd oe ance te apc PRINS 2
Flas betwee ance of these ret DNS SENG
the sli pred oe rein beeen parament and
emt (Rae of the ary of he nme
arene mf Se! an ern 5
in pare cr fact none ot hse rach om
branch whee ung cas te each
ne hes ida 10 8 edi
ere GN oe ne woul preset Tow te
SSE sete ce ra ary
en ay completely ae with Mahan’ in
a ee te te aa fms 8 ee
pectin ences hore eatin MEN 2 SP
ot ee to 2 ge, cue At On
inn 2, of eat Se es TC
ea eens aoe 1 anche a
ero cen of tances ve
Peo, inne Sate, Bomar,
fies er Sar tench prec form of ANS
icant fede te ame womorat mole
Sat he lc of production ab pratt
Sons he tie capo, aes, 22
Cis Sr, eg elsed te retin of
Oye pe fxm the sy ofS
2 ay be exer can te Tec
ea 2 at eon ot ean of eS
2nd ee eA tit ti epee
anger ea of te ean nee ee
Bean ibe dey comlshe by te mets
Branch, art os a eden By he mostig
Leprol a he Ste aporasad of of
of ihe whl sac macau wich sel oe
feral oso peotucon aodevelopens&
theca neuen
ve ip 9
SEIN: Fee
he eabem ol the Copii Sate 48
et we am cumple te gt cs of ey
ting Star tees ma ie ate
a Se wth of mi agent ed |
sed a of seni neh
es ee speak o gents of te rl of |
Sy ee apr, ba a |
th ne acy ree Ma
cet, Mia ctr ee won an |
Inet cforms |
Sp mee ro ay
oat Yet os am |
ser 3 mete Oy eee, a
oe gery mp cere ean Se
te cen rt may ear aly
Stee oh Lo ur eae ein
reson cb wi he
fey sm ona wage Se
a sc mae |e oa
By a ese nae
$e emergent in ath Aen
4: The presen orm ofthe Copia
Can we then speak nthe present sage of caitlin of >
Cane he eM a af eSae? T would ase Bete
‘pata of or donot bieve ht this mation
Be firma ee Becom of 3 epodeant rl of th
3 fam sec ote a amas PB 1
ay iors beatae ns rene moan oe
Frere ite elton between he State and ri
form of ae ets oy te erro eaons
as Sram eo the State apart and ae oft
ene pont tha ems pen 10 EN
en ave no’ becoming increas itn sh Se
hee atone cca svernangeae: In ec it
Aha hee ech ind aap, The agement ms
se eerer meray dese, nde comer ih
seme nent mun es State monopoly