Week 4: State Capitalism and its Intermediaries

Moishe Postone’s critical reexamination of Marxist philosophy identifies production as the preeminent force which affects economic, political, and in a way, historical realities. In his critique of Friederich Pollock’s writings concerning Post-Liberal Capitalism and State Capitalism Postone asserts that economic organization “is simply a function of the mode and goal of its administration” (100). I agree with Postone’s view of the argument especially in Pollock’s claim that the State Capitalism which formed during the 20th century as analogous with Socialism, in respects to labor and distribution. Pollock’s argument in this case appears, to me, monolithic and to not account for varying degrees of control as well as sources of control within State Capitalism. Although initially it does appear that Socialism and the State Capitalism of Pollock are essentially identical in respects to labor and distribution, Postone is correct to criticize the lack of focus on the means of production. To me, it is extremely important to recognize the intermediate maneuverings of State Capitalism and not simply as an abstraction to be used comparatively. While it is true that extrapolating the course of State Capitalism leads to many of Pollock’s conclusions, using it comparatively against Socialism obscures the transition from Liberal Capitalism as well as the importance of production. For instance, there is no reason to think that an intermediate formation of State Capitalism would necessarily progress to the complete government control of labor and private property. Also, in relation to labor, it seems to me that state control, emanating as public protective measures, would retain the same veiled appearance as Liberal Capitalism. However, the centralization of economic power in bureaucracy appears in legitimate and welcome circumstances in perceived democratic societies. I do not think that State Capitalism and its more centralized and production oriented equivalent, Fascism, can be glossed over on the way to understanding Materialist philosophy.