The State The Modern Politics

THE STATE: MODERN POLITICS 1

The State: The Modern Politics

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THE STATE: MODERN POLITICS 2

The State: The Modern Politics

The modernization of politics has seen the rise of various ideologies and positions in the

political paradigm. Numerous scholars have in their different concessions, strived to explain

political standing through applying different theories. Among such approaches, there exist the

Schwarzmantel theories of the state that include Elitism, Pluralists, and Marxists. The three

arguments have helped define the concept of the country from a political dimension about the

number of power centers that exist in any form of state. Through the ideas expressed by

Schwarzmantel, the paper shall discuss the different dimensions through which the state exists

with relation the theories of Pluralists, Elitist, and Marxist; and how through such schools of

thought, the states have managed to address their issues either as from a different or non-conflict

point of view.

Pluralists View

Schwarzmantel in his studies identifies the Pluralists state as a state that is in harmony

thriving in neutrality. Such nature, however, cautioned to be under the influence of various

groups within its ranks. Such exposure according to Schwarzmantel exposes the state to

significant levels of susceptibility (2007, p.461). The Pluralists view the state as an existing

framework composed of different social interests reconcilable at varying levels of social

interactions. On the aspect of power and its center, the pluralist's view disenfranchises the

concept of central authority through disintegrated political sources of power. Power is

decentralized and never single sourced from a monopolizing political group. Schwarzmantel

mentions the susceptibility of a pluralist state to groups and ideologies such as capitalists. In

further discourse, despite their ability on holding influence within such societies, it remains

THE STATE: MODERN POLITICS 3

difficult for such groups to monopolize political power as their control remains countered by

other classes within the same culture especially the working class.

In a pluralist state, power remains decentralized between the capitalists’ class and the

labor class as the key players. Schwarzmantel (2007, 472), mentions the importance of pluralists’

dimensions through the capitalists, the working class and the labor unions. According to such

analogies, the pluralists view helps explain the importance of diversified social groups as part of

a state and their influence in the decentralization of power. In context, Schwarzmantel’s

definition of the Pluralists state as a political view defines such political intrigues to form a

framework that rather than focusing on getting to power, prioritizes the reconciliation of the

social diversity in interests (2007, p. 467). Here, given the orientation of the social interests, it

remains important that the state focus on delivering on its promises to the different social groups

and their interests.

A modern view of the political landscape about the pluralists’ model of political opinion

remains in the identification of trade and employee unions. The political Pluralists view explains

the existence of influence that such groups including trade unions and human activist groups

hold on the government. Their influence on a political paradigm disperses absolute power from

government holding to the people. Political power in pluralists states setting, therefore, shared

creating a sense of neutrality on the part of the government when conducting itself on behalf of

the civilians.

Elitists View

The Elitist theory is a concept of the state according to the views of Mark Weber. Weber

describes the state as an instrument that various groups within the society use to grasp control of

other groups within the same society. The concept helps explain the influence of small groups

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that control the corridors of power through the political guise of lobby mechanizations (Agné,

2006, p.434). The elitist's belief in the idea of legitimacy creates the aspect of governmental

bureaucracy that sees modern states organized through groups of elite individuals within the

state. The elites in their rights and knowledge of the government through its systems rationalize

their political influence to dominate fellow men. As such, an elitist state represents a series in the

sequence of domination that exists among the different dominant groups that dominate the

dominant groups.

The Elitists state in contexts is non-defined on its functions and roles as different factions

perform independent tasks creating the concept of territoriality instigating conflicts in the end

(Agné, 2006, p.437). The elitist's definition, therefore, remains in the context of power and the

struggle that ensues among different groups that claim to control various factions within the

government. Elitism in governance and state-run affairs exists in a modern political realm where

the definitive arms of governments continue to be under the influence of elites and technocrats

who through legal processes have managed to create bureaucratic chains around power managing

to consolidate their influence (Agné, 2006, p.454). As such, power in elitists states concept

remains centrally placed yet guarded by a realm of influential groups that use politics and their

knowledge of it to influence the outcomes of power struggles.

Marxists State

The theories of Karl Marx continue to be influential with the social setup regardless of

the discourse of their application. Karl Marx in his view chose the bourgeois group as the class

that shapes political opinions and hence power. In creating the Marxists state, Schwarzmantel

recognizes the continued reliance of modern governments to tax and credit exposing such

institutions to the middle class within the economy. It is their investment and their influence on

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state investments that make such a class quite influential in political front. The influence of the

class on areas such as the media and their grasp on both public and private sector through

investments makes it next to impossible to hinder them from gaining political influence and

ascension to power (Hobson, 2000, p.5).

A look at the modern politics and governments, the constitution of bourgeois class

ensures that their influence in politics and the state remains integral in the functioning of the

state. The existence of such classes has made it essential for the all involved groups in the

facilitation of power create a different state either through interests or in the power struggle

(Hobson, 2000, p.6). In contemporary societies, the influence of one class, in this case, Marxist

state, causes the state to suffer from various challenges including unemployment and related

economic issues. However, according to Karl Marx, the bourgeois class increasingly provides for

the social needs of the society including education, health, and schemes.

The political conception of the various forms of political states as described herein

outlines the importance class and power as they categorically contribute to the economic aspects

of the country. Schwarzmantel’s views of the political reality through the different forms of state

ideologies help with the interpretation of state workings providing a real dimension of the

understanding of various state functions (1987, p.16). The viewpoints as they help with

displaying a different nature towards looking and assessing the functionality of the state

regardless of the interpretation of the ongoing political dynamics.

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Bibliography

Agné, H., 2006. A dogma of democratic theory and globalization: Why politics need not include

everyone it affects. European Journal of International Relations, 12(3), pp.433-458.

Hobson, J.M., 2000. The state and international relations. Cambridge University Press.

Schwarzmantel, J. J. (1987). Structures of power: an introd. to politics. Brighton, Wheatsheaf

Books [u.a.].

Schwarzmantel, J., 2007. Community as communication: Jean-Luc Nancy and ‘being-in-

common’. Political Studies, 55(2), pp.459-476.

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