State, power, socialism:

a “reformist” book?

Abstract

The article aims to point out the originality of the concept of relational State and, consequently, of the concept of authoritarian statism, both addressed in the latest works by Nicos Poulantzas, especially in his latest book, State, power, socialism, written in 1978. Contrary to what some critics of this book claim, Poulantzas does not break with the Althusserian theoretical framework, nor does he take a position in defense of political reformism. His position in his final work is the defense of the democratic path towards socialism, but which would not be gradualist, since it would incorporate a succession of ruptures and transformations in a long road towards communism and the end of the State.