THE ROLE OF THE STATE
Many theories are not from mainstream sociology, so you need to be able to apply ones borrowed from political science.
MARXIST APPROACHES
- The state is part of the superstructure ruled by dominant class.
- Democracy appears to serve all people, as so there's less need of force.
- After revolution, the state will wither away and workers will rule themselves.
Modern Marxists have developed these ideas.
- Gramsci distinguished between institutions that ruled by force eg. police, to those that ruled with consent eg. media.
- He said hegemony is increasingly important, maintained by transmitting the ruling class ideology.
- Millband said the British state was the instrument of the ruling class because:
- Top positions are filled from this class or socialised into its ideology.
- The dominant class has the time and resources to influence the state.
- Big business pays for the state, so what is in 'the public interest', is defined as what is good for business, even by left-wing politicians.
- Poulantzas said the state wasn't an instrument of the ruling class, but it' the structure of capitalist society, not the aims of individuals, which supported capitalism. He said ti was increasingly autonomous *i.e. acted independently) from the ruling class. This autonomy helped the ruling class by balancing the interests of different sections of the ruling class and granting concessions t the working class to maintain ruling class hegemony.
Evalualtion
Pluralists deny power is in the hands of a few. Elite theories see non-economic sources of power and point to the elite rule in socialist states.
ELITE THEORIES
- The state may be the source of power for elite rule, may be part to the elite and may serve the elite. Marxist views are rejected as a communist state would not be free from oppression.
- The need to get the consent of the governed is part of most elite theories but the elections are seen as a sham, where people can only choose rulers from withing the elite.
Evaluation
Marxists say the theories don't identify the source of power as the ruling class, but concentrate on the instrument of power, i.e. the state.
PLURALIST THEORIES
- The state is part of a political system that helps achieve consensual goals.
- Functionalists also say the state is integrating.
- Pluralism assumes society is made up of competing groups, and the state referees them neutrally.
- Pluralism is popular in the US where there are quite a few checks and balances, which include separation of power between president, congress and supreme court.
- Also popular in western democracies where leaders can be removed by elections.
Evaluation
Marxists say who benefits from a decision matters more than who makes it. Weaker social groups do not participate in power. More women and ethnic minorities may be changing this. Elite pluralism recognises that some groups are too weak to have influence but are still represented in government or by the government.
THE NEW RIGHT AND THE STATE
Free market supporters like minimal state interference in the lives of citizens. The welfare state to redistribute wealth is seen as dysfunctional and inefficient.