What is the Karl Marx theory of the origin of state?

Answer 1

Although Marx and Engels never put

forward a unified presentation of the

theory of the state, their conception of

the state is a fundamental aspect of their

outlook, and of what has since come to be

called Marxism. In fact, theories of the

state consti tute critical facets of all

totalitarian credos, not just the Marxian.

After all, a given ideology may be

overwhelmingly totalitarian in underlying

logic, but if it lacks a focus on using the

state as the means of transforming

society-that is, of imposing its ideas-its

totalitarianism will remain implicit. It is

the same with Marxism. While Marxism

contains many propositions that imply

totalitarianism, it is Marx and Engels' view

of the state that renders their theory

totalitarian in practice. This is mos t

evident in their argument that the state,

in the form of the Dictatorship of the

proletariat, is the chief weapon in the

struggle to establish communism.

Unfortunately, the totalitarian nature of

the Marxist view of the state is not so

easily discerned. A glance at Marxist

theory, and the practice of Marxist

organizations, will reveal what appears to

be a paradox. On the one hand, Marx and

Engels and th eir followers claim to be

vigorous opponents of the state, and

insist that one of their most fundamental

goals is the abolition of that institution.

On the other hand, the vast majority of

Marxist organizations have been, and

continue to be, militant advo cates of the

drastic extension of the role of the state

in society. When they've come to power

through revolutions or military conquest,

Marxists have created societies that have

been almost totally dominated by states.

Indeed, these states' power has bee n

among the greatest in history. Even the

wing of the Marxist movement that no

longer aims at revolution, the social-

democratic, promotes the systemic

expansion of the role of the state in

capitalist society.

Answer 2

Karl Marx argued that the state emerged as a tool of the ruling class to maintain power and control over the working class. He believed that the state serves to protect the interests of the bourgeoisie and perpetuate systems of exploitation, such as capitalism. Marx viewed the state as a mechanism of social control that reinforces class divisions and inequality.