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INSTRUMENTALIST MARXISM
Sociologyindex, Sociology Books 2011
Instrumentalist Marxism is a view of the role of the state
from a conflict or Marxist perspective. The state is seen as an instrument of the dominant
class of the society and is assumed to operate at its behest.
Instrumentalist Marxism approach stresses the importance of
the intimate connection of the capitalist class to the state power apparatus and argues
that it is this interconnection that explains political and economic policies in
capitalist societies.
Instrumentalist Marxism view has now been largely displaced
by a structurally-focused analysis.
"Instrumentalist Marxism can be salvaged by adoption
of the concept of 'relative autonomy'."
"At the other end are more rigid theories (such as ‘instrumentalist’
Marxist or dependency models), in which the state is understood as little more than a
handmaiden to the interests of domestic and/or international capital" (Grindle and
Thomas, 1991; Dunleavy, 1991).
"Reflecting some of these concerns, more recent studies of governance and development
have tended to reject cruder models (such as pluralism or instrumentalist Marxism) in
favour of a less rigid understanding of state-society interaction" (Evans, 1995;
Grindle and Thomas, 1991; Kohli, 1987; Migdal, 1988; Putnam, 1993; Tendler, 1997; Jenkins,
1999).
Marxism
and the State: An Analytical Approach
by Paul Wetherly
Book Description: Paul Wetherly provides a restatement and defence of the classical
Marxist theory of the state, developing an analytical approach that draws on G.A. Cohen's
functional interpretation of Marx's theory of history. Instrumentalist and structuralist
arguments are conceived as related causal mechanisms within the functional approach, and
the principle of economic determination is shown to be consistent with the relative
autonomy of the state as an institution with its own interests and capacities. This
old-fashioned interpretation is defended against rival approaches within contemporary
Marxism, notably Jessop's strategic relational approach.
Marx Myths and Legends. John Holloway
The Tradition of Scientific Marxism
"The positivisation of the concept of science implies a positivisation of the concept
of struggle. Struggle, from being struggle-against, is metamorphosed into being
struggle-for. Struggle-for is struggle to create a communist society, but in the
instrumentalist perspective which the positive-scientific approach implies, struggle comes
to be conceived in a step-by-step manner, with the ‘conquest of power’ being
seen as the decisive step, the fulcrum of revolution. The notion of the ‘conquest of
power’, then, far from being a particular aim that stands on its own, is at the
centre of a whole approach to theory and struggle."
Structuralist Marxism and Its Critics - darkwing.uoregon.edu/~vburris/soc615/615wk5.pdf
"Summarize the main differences between "instrumentalist" and
"structuralist" views of the state as expressed in the debate between Poulantzas
and Miliband. Assess the relative merits of each view and pick the one theory that you
find superior and defend it with reference to concrete issues of sociological explanation
or political practice."
Extract from Critical Race Theory CRT: An Overview
Richard Nunan, College of Charleston
"CRT sensitivity to the practical influence of rights talk led CRT scholars to put
greater emphasis on the constitutive impact of legal ideology: law is not merely an
epiphenomenal "superstructure" reflecting class interests which originated
elsewhere, but actually has the power to create and modify the institutions of economic,
social, and political power. In this respect CRT scholars sought to distance themselves
from straightforwardly instrumentalist Marxism, which does treat legal discourse and legal
institutions as epiphenomenal. But, except as a matter of degree, this insight does not
distinguish CRT views from the CLS movement, which also embraced non-instrumentalist
accounts under which legal discourse is a source for shaping and perpetuating (or even
dismantling) power and class distinctions, not merely a reflection of them. Arguably
however, given the centrality of legal reform among CRT concerns, CRT scholars have
perhaps been a bit more attentive to the constitutive aspect of legal discourse than their
CLS counterparts." - apa.udel.edu/ apa/archive/newsletters/v98n2/lawblack/nunan2.asp
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