BAYER UNIVERSITY, KANO
FACULTY OF SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
POL 2204: FOUNDATION
OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
SUB-THEME: STATE
THEORY IN MARXIAN POLITICAL ECONOMY
2013/2014 – SECOND SEMESTER
INSTRUCTOR: M.
M. YUSIF
Introduction
There is
increasing development of ideas on the importance of politics in shaping social
change in modern society. This has raised further controversy in Marxist theory
on the relationship between the economic base and the political and ideological
superstructures.
The debate goes
on that the problem of human society today, is no longer the adequacy of
resources or their allocation, but the way that they are produced and who
decides and for what. As it is observed by a famous political theorist, “these
problems are settled as much in the political arena as in production”.
This has
promoted growing importance of state and its agents and institutions in every
society – from advance industrial to Third World.
Description of the Course
Our experience
of the repressive nature of the state dismisses the argument of those who think
we can use state power to our advantage.
A very
simplistic view of the state which project it as something that we can rely for
all we need is not enough. It is necessary that we understand both what the
state is and how its function in the society changes.
We have seen the
state as a welfare institution but now confronted with privatization of state
services. This is not accidental.
So without a
clear understanding of what the state is and how its role and function is
changing, it will all be too easy to be led into a simplistic position that the
state is an instrument of conspiracy of capital or else to move into liberal
campaign that seek to lobby the state for all we need or to solve our problem.
Another
dangerous expression about state is that it is seen as the Government,
therefore it is used interchangeably with Government or just with public
sector. While the state has many connections with the Government, but it can
exist even if there is no Government.
The objective of
this course is to introduce students to the debates and controversy around the
social form of capitalist state in Marxian Political Economy.
Beginning with
traditional Marxist state theory which periscope the state as an instrument, we
would move to other perspectives of state as class struggle and the
structuralist determination of the state in capitalist mode of production.
These would
raise complex questions like the relationship between state and capital, state
and classes as well as the political orientation of the state. Such questions
are going to be examined, including on the nature and character of state in
peripheral society.
The course is
divided into five parts of a single process of an analysis of state from a
Marxian Political Economy.
One is the
varied perspectives on what is Political
Economy. What is the subject-matter and its concern in making analysis
in order to understand human society.
Second is the
method of Marxian Political Economy. There are many strands of theories in the
science of Political Economy, but the rise of Marxism makes it an independent
science, which further development of ideas both within Marxian theory and
outside set in motion a decline of the original character of the science.
Third is the
state theory from Marxian perspectives. The traditional Marxist theory from
Marx to Lenin Springs up questions and debate on nature of capitalist state.
These would be examined.
Fourth is the
character of state in peripheral society. Diverse theories and their
implication for capitalist development would also be treated.
Lastly is going
to be a theoretical conclusion and reflections on political implication of the
class perspectives on state.
Topics and Reading
1)
General Introduction
Introducing the course; topics and recommended
reading: Course Requirements; Aid for learning and research; assessment of the
teaching programme by students; socialization; division of students into
seminers.
Reading
1)
Munro C. and
Rosanna D. (2008) Research: An Introduction to On-line Political Science
Sources for Beginners and Skeptics”. IPSR Vol. 29 No. 5.
2)
M. M. Yusif,
“How to write small research project”.
3)
Harry Goulbourne
(ed.) 1980. Politics in the Third World. Chapter 1, 2 and 3.
For Discussion
Make a web and library survey on relevant texts on
state theory and report the same next week. Web survey of only five different
texts showing the name of the site and the web class. From a library write the
title of the text; the author(s); the publisher; where it is published; which
year it was published; blurb of the text; and the class mark of the book in the
library.
Reading and Discussion of Harry Goulbourne –
Chapters 1 and 2.
2)
Political Economy: What is it and What is it Not?
Reading
1)
Kozlov G. A.
Political Economy: Capitalism. Chapter 1
2)
Beckman B.
“Political Science and Political Economy”. In Y. Barongo (ed.) Political
Science in Africa: A Critical Review”.
3)
Eskor Toyo,
“Primary Requirements for the Unity of Political Science and Economics” in
Barongo (ed.) op cit.
4)
Eskor Toyo, “The
mode of Production Nucleus as Integrator of Economic and Political Sciences”.
NJPS Vol. 2 No. 2
5)
Eskor Toyo, “The
Return of Political Economy” JPE Vol. 1 No. 1.
6)
Izugbara C. O.
“The Gilberkian Report and Eskor Toyo’s Fury: A rejoinder”. NSS Vol. 2 No. 2.
7)
Ernest Mandel,
Marxist Economic Theory. Chapter 18.
8)
James Petras,
“Liberal, Structural and Radical Approaches to Political Economy an assessment
and an alternative”.
9)
Antonoo Merlo,
“Whither Political Economy? Theories, Facts and Issues.
For Discussion
Social reality is complex but the science of
political economy can provide explanation. How?
Political Economy is ridden with confusion of
identity but in actual fact is a thriving science. Discuss.
3)
Marx, Marxism and the Question of Method
Reading
1)
Bade Onimode. An
Introduction to Marxist Political Economy. Chapters 1 and 2.
2)
Paul M. S. The
Thoery of Capitalist Development. Chapter 1.
3)
Caparaso and
Levine. Theroies of Political Economy. Chapter 4.
4)
Yash Tandon,
“Whose Capital and Whose State”. Yash Tondon (ed.) Debate on Classs, State and
Imperialism”.
For Discussion
What is the significance of the concept “state” in
Marxist theory, discourse and method?
4)
Traditional Marxist Theory of State: From Marx to
Lenin
Reading
1)
Draper, Hal.
Karl Marx’s Theory of Revolution. Vol. 1. State and Bureaucracy.
2)
Karl Marx. The
Eighteenth Brumair of Louis Bonarpate.
3)
Karl Marx. The
Class Struggle in France.
4)
Engels, F. The
Origin of the Family, Private Property, and the State.
5)
Lenin V. I.
State and Revolution.
6)
Rosa Luxemburg.
Selected Political Writings. Chapter 2.
For Disussion
Reading and Discussion of No. 5 and 6 above.
5)
Structuralism Perspective on State: Miliband and
Poulantzas
Reading
1)
Marcin C. The
State and Political Theory. Chapter 3.
2)
Ralph Miliband.
The State in Capitalist Society.
3)
Nicos
Poulantzas, State Power Socialism.
4)
Nicos
Poulantzas, Political Power and Social Classes.
5)
Nicos
Poulantzas, Classes in Contemporary Capitalism
6)
Nicos Poulantzas
and Ralph Miliband, “The Problem of the Capitalist State”. In Robin Blackburn
(ed.) Ideology in Social Sciences: Reading in Critical Theory.
For Discussion
Bring out the positions of Miliband and Poulantzas
on the nature of capitalist state. What are the differences and similarities
between them.
6)
State and Capital: The Derivation School
Reading
1)
John Holloway
and Sol Picciotto (eds.) State and Capital: A Marxist Debate. Chapters 4, 5, 6
and the Introduction.
2)
Marcin C. Op
cit. chapter 5
For Discussion
The arena of politics is distinct and separate from
the economy, therefore state is determined by manifestations of social
relations of capital i.e. class struggle. Comment.
7)
Gramsci on State Theory
Reading
1)
Antonio Gramsci,
Selections from Prison Notebooks.
2)
Marcin C. op.
cit. chapter 3
For Discussion
Politics before economics is the critical
revolutionary perspective of Antonio Gramsci, therefore state power and exercise
of state power is a site of battle between political interests.
8)
The
State and Democracy Thesis: Lenin; Rosa Luxembourg; Colleti; Bobbio; Ingrao
Reading
1)
Lenin, State and
Revolution.
2)
Lenin, The
renegade Kautsky.
3)
Lucio colletti,
Lenins state and Revolution.
4)
Norman Geras,
“Luxemburg and Trotsky on the Contradictions of Bourgeoisie Democracy”.
5)
Marcin C. Op.
Cit. Chapter 6.
For Discussion
Bougeoise evolves democracy to govern, yet even where majority citizens are workers
that does not stop the state being a capitalist state. Why?
9)
Globalisation and State Theory
Reading
1)
Jan Aart
Scholte, “Global capitalism and the State”.
2)
William I.
Robinson, “Capitalist Globalisation and the Transnationalisation of the State”.
3)
William I.
Robinson and Jerry Hanis, “Towards Global Ruling Class?: Globalisation and
Transnational Capitalist Class”.
For Discussion
National based production gives rise to National
State Power. Global Based production gives rise to Transnational State Power.
Discuss.
10)
State
in Pheripheral Society: Fractionist View of State; Over Developed View
Reading
1)
Clark S.,
“Capital, Fractions of Capital and the State: Neo-Marxist Analysis of the South
African State”. Capital and Class No. 5.
2)
Davies R. “Class
Struggle and the Periodisation of the State in South Africa”. ROAPE No. 7.
3)
Innes D. and
Plaut M., “Class Struggle and the State”. ROAPE No. 11.
4)
Kaplan D., “Relations
of Production, Class Struggle and the State in South Africa in the Interwar
Period”. ROAPE No. 15/16.
5)
Othman S.
“Classes, Crises and Coup: the Demise of Shagaris Regime” African Affairs Vol.
83 No. 333.
6)
Terisa T. and
Badru P., “Oil and Instability: Class Contradictions and the 1983Coup in Nigeria”.
Journal of African Marxist Issue No. 7.
7)
Hamza A., “The
State in Post-Colonial Societies: Pakistan and Bangladesh” in Harry Goulbourne
(ed.) Op Cit.
8)
John Soul, “The Unsteady
State: Uganda, Obote and General Amin”. ROAPE No. 5
9)
Yash Tandon
(ed.) Op. Cit.
For Discussion
Formulate a fractionist theoretical assumption of a
class-state. Compare the South Africa debate and of Nigeria.
11)
State and Capitalist Development in the Periphery
Reading
1)
Kaplinsky R.
“Capitalist Accumulation in Kenya”. ROAPE No. 12.
2)
Swaison B. “The
Development of Corporate Capitalism in Kenya 1918 – 1977.
3)
Beckman B.,
“Imperalism and Capitalist Transformation: Critique of a Kenyan Debate”. ROAPC
No. 19.
4)
Beckman B.,
“Imperialism and the National Bourgeoisie”. ROAPE No. 22.
5)
Beckman B. Whose
State, State and Capitalist Development in Nigeria”. ROAPE No. 23.
6)
Evans P.
Dependent Development: The Alliance of Multinational, State and Local Capital.
For Discussion
Study and make pattern notes of the Kenyan debate
for discussion.
12)
Conclusion
I: Theoretical Conclusion; Presentation and Discussion of Seminar Projects and
Response Papers
Reading
1)
Jessop B.
“Putting States in their Place: Once More on Capitalist States and Capitalist
Societies”.
2)
Alessandro B. et
al. “Global Post. Fordism and Concepts of the State”.
3)
Andreas B. and
Adam D. M. “Globalisation, the State and Class Struggle: A Critical Economy
Engagement with open Marxism”.
4)
Werner Bonefeld,
“The Capitalist State: Illusion and Critique.
13)
Conclusion II: Classroom Experience; Eating and
Chatting
Additional Reading
1) Joseph S. “Redefininf the Role of the State: What
should it do? How should it Do it?
2) Martin S., “The State and Globalisation”.
3) Sanni G. T. “State, Class and Capital Accumulation
in the Perphery”.
4) Paul N. B. “ Class Formation and Post Colonial State
Theory in Africa”. Africa Quarterly Vol. XX Nos. 3 – 4.
5) Beckman B., “Capitalist State Formation in the Third
World”. AKUT 19.
6) Gavin Kitching, Class and Economic Change in Kenya.
Chapter 13.
7) John Holloway, Change the World without Taking
Power: The Meaning of Revolution Today. Chapter 2.
8) Lucio Colletti, “Marxism: Science or Revolution”? in
Robin BlackBurn Op Cit.
Course
Requirement
Ø The
teaching of the course is by giving lectures. Each topic is expected to be
covered in one lecture period. When the duration of the semester is against my
plan some topics may be combined for treatment. However, the last 30 minutes of each period will be for
presentation and discussion on chosen text or question.
Ø Assessment
of students is based on end of semester examination (70%) and continuous assessment (30%). The CA will be determined by obligatory weekly assignment;
active participation in discussing the assignment; a group small research
project; research project response paper; a supervised test; ICT usage;
attendance;
Ø At the end
of the semester each seminar will submit a report on classroom experience.
Ø There are
many teaching aids on my website which are recommended to enhance the capacity
of students in ICT, communicative writing, etc.
Ø In order to
purify the system of learning and research I have to take strict disciplinary
action against any student who is found on plagiarism. To avoid plagiarism you
must not copy or paraphrase someone else work and present it as your own.
Again, all texts consulted should be properly acknowledged. The penalty is that
any work found to be plagiarism will result in being assessed “00” in the overall CA on the course.
Learning
Needs Skill
Learning even in tertiary institutions is a complex
relationship of so many skills. It requires communication skills, team work,
study devices, use of modern Information and Communication Technology, etc
The following learning guides which I have developed
for my students in the last six years also recommended for you. They are
compulsory readings for all my students in the level 200. They can be found in
my e-mail address:
They are hereby listed below:
1)
Assessing students examination papers: Marking scheme
2)
Enhancing students capacity in learning through the
use of computers, internet and e-mail.
3)
Introducing Team/Group works in large classes.
4)
How to use internet to source reading materials.
5)
Study guidelines for effective performance by my
student.
6)
How to make patterned notes form texts.
7)
Writing Examination: A Communicative Approach
8)
How to write group semester paper in large classes
9)
How to write Book Review.
10)
Communicative writing: Exploiting the concept
11)
Taking Note in class lecture on form a Textbook.
12)
Using E-Mail for Teaching, Learning and Research.
13)
Code E-Journals and E-Books for Teaching, Learning and
Research.
14)
Code of ethics in the class of M. M. Yusif.
15)
ICT for learning and education beyond information.
16)
Criticism-self-criticism session.
17)
Guidelines for small-research project.
18)
Progress Report on ICTs for learning and research.
19)
The underlying guides and principles of teaching in my
class.
20)
Reflecting on Teaching Military and Politics.
21)
How to do research: What are the Problems.
22)
Information Age: Moving with ICTs to understand the
World around us.
23)
Progress report on the teaching of Peace and Conflict
Studies.
My watch word in this year’s teaching is whatever
ideas received from me or from text books given to read are not correct and
final. You must challenge and criticize them in order to keep learning. In this
academic session endeavour to make learning as “Education for transformation”.
Get ready. Each of you is going to show and tell us that he/she has changed,
from the time we have started to the end of the course and beyond.
M. M. Yusif
