The Concept of the State: A Response to Stephen Krasner

Abstract

Stephen D. Krasner's review article, Approaches to State: Alternative Conceptions and Historical Dynamics, effectively illuminates the ways in which several recent books explicitly concerned with 'the state' differ from and challenge prevailing intellectual approaches that emerged out of behavioral revolution of 1950s.' His discussion, moreover, convincingly advocates analysis. Contained in his treatment is a great deal that is helpful to those interested in wrestling with intellectual problems entailed in statist approach. At same time, some of pathways pointed to by his analysis may prove to be blind alleys and should, therefore, be approached with caution. Joining several issues raised by Krasner, this note stresses abstractness of state and urges that a Hegelian conception of state should be added to Marxist tradition, which he does not treat, and to liberal ideas promoted by Krasner. In my view, it would be a superior intellectual strategy for concept formation and theory development to rethink political and philosophical literature on state rather than to borrow a controversial metaphor from biology, as Krasner recommends. This alternative strategy leads to thoughts different from Krasner's on concept of development and on question of strength of state. To conclude, I elucidate some of problems and puzzles that statist approach faces.