State according to Marxism and Fascism

Examine the conception of the state in the ideologies of Marxism and Fascism. UPSC 2014 Paper 1A Qn 3b

A state is a political entity with a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. The state is the primary unit of political organization in the modern world.

State according to Marxian perspective -

Marxist theory of state emerged as a reaction against liberalism. According to Marxists, the state is the product of class society i.e., of the economically dominant class. So, the state is considered a partisan and a class institution. Being a partisan institution, it serves as an instrument of exploitation.

The type of society explains the type of state i.e., society provided the base on which the state stood as the superstructure.

Establishment of a communist state according to Marx -

The dictatorship of the proletariat is considered the abolition of the opposing antagonistic classes and not the abolition of the state.

The state being an engine of class-rule, would, in the transitional period of socialism, establish socialism and abolish the roots of class antagonism i.e., the private property system as a means of production.

Marx says, the state's destiny is its own abolition. "The first step is overthrowing the existing state, the bourgeoise state, by the revolution of the proletariat class. The next step is the establishment of a transitional state, the proletarian dictatorship. The new state is abolished by its own withering away.

Fascist notion of state -

Integral or fascist nationalism is defined as 'the exclusive pursuit of national policies, the absolute maintenance of national integrity and the steady increase in state power'.

The fascist notion of the state stresses that the individual lives for the state, serves the state, and glorifies the state. It gave an organic concept of state, rejected political democracy, and favored militarism and imperialism. It exalted national interest above humanity.

Apart from being a guardian of the people, the state was seen as totalitarian, and in absolute terms, as custodian and transmitter of spirit of the people. Ideas like the cult of blood and the cult of sacred soil were encouraged to win the political support of selective groups. It aims to propose reason as well as appealing moral and social principles for the fulfillment of the ambitions of narrow groups. It sought to enhance the prestige and power of the dictator commanding unconditional obedience from the people.

For example, Mussolini resorted to the myth of nation whereas Germans resorted to the myth of race to mobilize people.

For Fascism, the growth of an empire that is to say the expansion of the nation is an essential manifestation of vitality, and its opposite is a sign of decadence. War was exalted as a good end and the purpose of war was total annihilation of the defeated nation than rehabilitation.

The doctrine of racial superiority which is close to fascist ideology preaches the differences in quality and aptitude among human races. Fascist ideology took the differences to an extreme form where the existence of the 'other' was seen as a threat to one's life.

For fascists, it is not a matter of fixing the boundaries but rather an attempt to eradicate all those that are different.

While democracy and communism represented progressive forces of the modern age, fascism sought to promote a movement in the reverse direction. Fascism exalts the state as an end and reduces the individual to the means.

Though Marxism is considered a progressive ideology, Fascism opposes the concept of class-conflict and is able to consolidate the unified national interest.