Theory of the Essence of the Capitalist State

Marxist theory of the bourgeois state as the instrument of bourgeoisie for the exploitation and oppression of the proletariat. In order to justify the eternal legitimacy of the ruling exploiting classes, they have always tried to conceal the origin and the essence of the state and deceived the masses of the working people with “divine right of kings”, etc. During its revolutionary period, the bourgeoisie had put forth the “theory of social contract” and the “theory of the transfer of rights” to explain the origin of the state, which played a progressive role in the struggle against feudalism. However, the “theory of social contract” and other theories based on abstract theory of human nature denied the class essence and economic root cause of the state. In their initial critique of the bourgeois state in the 1840s, Marx and Engels made a preliminary demonstration of the essence and economic functions of the capitalist state based on the fundamental principles of historical materialism. In The Communist Manifesto, Marx and Engels pointed out that “the executive of the modern state is nothing but a committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie.” Later, in A Critique of Political Economy, Capital and other works, united with the struggle practice of the proletariat, Marx and Engels made more investigations on the origin and essence nature of the capitalist state and its functions. At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, under the new historical conditions, Lenin has made further elaboration of Marx and Engels’ thoughts on the essence of the state and the bourgeois state, enriching the Marxist theory of the essence of the capitalist state.

The theory of the essence of the bourgeois state shows that the state is a product and manifestation of irreconcilable class contradictions and an instrument of the exploiting classes for maintaining their rule. Although with the development of human society, the function of the state as an organ for the administration of public affairs constantly increased, this could not change the essence of the state. The capitalist state is the instrument of the bourgeoisie for ruling the proletariat, and its essence is determined by the nature of capitalist relations of production. Under the capitalist private ownership system, the capitalists appropriate the means of production and become rich by extracting surplus-labor; the laborer is rid of, free of all the objects and lives by selling his labor-power, thus an antagonism and struggle between the bourgeoisie and the proletariat and other classes of workers is formed. In order to maintain its rule, the bourgeoisie has to rely on the coercive power of the state, on the standing army, police, prisons, courts and other organs of violence of the bourgeoisie, to force the proletariat to submit to its rule and to suppress the resistance and struggle of the proletariat. Although the bourgeoisie makes every effort to put forth the “theory of social organism” and other theories that the state was established merely for the purpose of regulating public relations and administering public affairs, and that the existence of the state is by nature a rational and eternal historical phenomenon, this in no way changes the essence of the capitalist state as an instrument of exploitation.

Marxist theory on the essence of the capitalist state is an important component part of the theory of scientific socialism, which is of great significance in guiding people to see through the lies of the bourgeoisie the essence of the capitalist state. Since the 20th century, although the bourgeoisie has moderated class contradictions by improving the lives of workers and improve social welfare, this could not change the essence of the capitalist state.