Suchergebnisse

Socialist theory and the statist critique of the stateSince the nineteenth century socialist thought appears to have experienced few important theoretical developments; some of its propositions have served neo-liberalism as well as fascism, anarchism as well as totalitarian-state socialism. One can therefore postulate that, from the beginning, socialism has contained a contradiction. This contradiction is manifest in the relationship between the principles of equality and liberty on the one hand and on the other the exigencies of social efficacy which inspire socialist thought. A totalitarian tendency and a statist tendency are the consequence. It appears, then, that the problem of the state is at the heart of socialist theory, which presents itself as a critique of the state but without transcending it. From this fact might spring the ambiguities and even the "blocage" of socialist thought. This hypothesis appears to be confirmed as much by Marx as by Saint-Simon.