Class Notes 4 You

Intro: Marxist theory of international politics refers to the understanding of economic policies of the state and their consequences in international sphere. Hence Marxist theories are theories of political economy. Though Marx was not concerned with IR per se but his concepts on capitalism and proletariat internationalism transcended national differences . His vision of a potential link between the bulk of humanity as a global proletariat is where, and how, Marxism enters IR Marxist scholars have tried to understand the working of capitalism in international context It argues that the construction of modern borders is determined by, or linked in various ways to, the development of capitalism. Instrumentalists Also known as dependency school They have analysed the impact of capitalism with respect to the existence of poverty in the countries of the South Core concepts of this school Concept of core and periphery Unequal exchange Uneven development Development of under development ( AG ...

Acc to Marxists, State is a part of superstructure, a reflection of base. And since base(means of economic production) are controlled by the capitalists, the state too is controlled by the capitalists. Engels in his book origin of family, pvt property and state has given Force theory- state not a result of social contract but forced upon the weak by the strong. Instrumentalists ( derived from communist manifesto) call state as executive committee of the capitalist class, i.e. for implementing its decisions and say neutrality of state is false consciousness . Since state is a class institution workers cannot expect justice out of it. Hence Marxists believe in a stateless society. based on historical materialism(class struggle). Lenin : the existence of state represents irreconcilability of class conflict. Friedrich Engels said - when freedom exists, there will be no state. Marx Lenin-  state represents irreconcilability of the class conflict. Ralph Miliband-book: state in a Capital...