Is an Alternative Theory of the State Possible? An Evaluation About the Theory of Alien Politics?

From the very beginning understanding the relationship between social classes and the state has always been one of the most complicated themes of Marxist theory. Especially, after the Soviet Revolution, this discussion became intensified and a range of different ideas and approaches were put forward in order to identify the position of the working class vis-à-vis the state. This article examines the theory of “alien politics” coined by Paul Thomas, and discusses the possibilities and limitations this theory offers. By underlying the importance of ‘the political’, the theory of alien politics criticizes the ruling class theory, which has an important place in Marxism. For a thorough grasp of the content of this critique, this study firstly addresses the alien politics theory methodologically. Then it moves to discuss and pinpoint the place of the alien politics as a part of the Marxist theory. The advantages and disadvantages of the alien politics as a state theory are also dwelt upon and assessed. The study then concludes that while the most profound contributions of the theory of alien politics are its efforts to point out the dogmatic dimensions of the ruling class theory and to emphasize the role of the political its lack of a detailed analysis on the conceptual limits of the term ‘political’ might be considered as the handicap of this theory.