POL 315 MODULE 2
UNIT 4
STATE POWER AND THE SUPERSTRUCTURE
CONTENTS
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Objectives
3.0 Main Content
3.1 State Power and the Superstructure
4.0 Conclusion
5.0 Summary
6.0 Tutor-Marked Assignment
7.0 References/Further Reading
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The power of the capitalist in a bourgeois society comes mainly from his
ownership and control of the means of production. The state functions in
the interest of the bourgeoisie.
The state is not neutral because it protects the interest of the capitalist
over and above other classes in society.
2.0 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this unit, you should be able to:
• discuss the state as an instrument of class rule
• justify how the state is a product of class differentiation
• expatiate the claim that political power is merely organised power
for domination.
3.0 MAIN CONTENT
3.1 State Power and the Superstructure
The state is, essentially, the coercive instrument of class rule
(domination, economic and political power) in a class stratified society.
For Marx the state is a committee for the management of the common
affairs of the bourgeoisie (Communist manifesto). The state is not
neutral but stands to protect the interest of one class over the others. For
Marx, the state will wither away with the destruction of private property
which will put to end all class induced privileges in society.
The state is a product of class differentiation in society. Political power
is merely organised power of one class for oppressing another. For
example, in a society with feudal arrangements in which the land is
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