The State and Justice: An Essay in Political Theory

by Milton Fisk

Overview

Offering a new political theory combining elements from the Marxist and liberal traditions, this book presents a disturbing view of the contemporary state at war with itself. This internal conflict stems from the state's having the double task of spurring on the economy and protecting the welfare and rights of all its citizens. Such conflict does not end at national boundaries but extends through the system of any imperial state. This perspective illuminates the fractures and instability within the imperial system.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521389662
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	11/24/1989
Pages:	404
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.91(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Introduction: can the state rule without justice?; Part I. An Outline of a Materialist Political Theory: 1. A challenge to materialism; 2. A framework for the state; 3. The revolt against theory; 4. State autonomy; Part II. An Assessment of the Place of Justice in the State: 5. Ideal justice; 6. Property and justice; 7. Repression and radical justice; 8. Justice and materialism; 9. Equality and liberty; 10. Class and the limits of control; Part III. A Functional View of Political Institutions: 11. On functional explanation; 12. Power and function; 13. Democracy, its bright and dark sides; 14. Welfare capitalism; 15. The new mercantilism; 16. Organized labor and the state; Part IV. An Account of the Community of States: 17. Global justice; 18. The imperial state; 19. Peace through strength; 20. The Soviet Union as other; Part V. A Reflection on the Transition to a New Kind of State: 21. Liberal egalitarianism; 22. Revolutionary anarchism; 23. Democracy and the transition to socialism; 24. The socialist state; Conclusion: state class, and democracy; Notes; Index.

Editorial Reviews

New edition of an introduction to descriptive and inferential statistics, essential to the disciplines of psychology, education, sociology, and health sciences. Features descriptions of 26 computer programs such as BMDP, Minitab, SAS, and SPSS, including commands and output for each program. Fisk (Indiana U.) develops a theory combining elements of Marxism and liberalism. He presents the contemporary state as being at war with itself, stemming from its double task of expanding the economy and protecting the welfare of all its citizens. This conflict extends throughout the international system of the imperial state. Well- written and well-considered. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"This is an important, ambitious book. Rather than continuing the debate about what Marx thought about justice or the state, Fisk has set out to construct a materialist theory of each, and their interrelation...He draws on concrete historical and contemporary experience to a degree rare among philosophers...Fisk is bold, unconventional, provocative. Few readers will agree with everything here; fewer still will come away without new ideas buzzing in the brain." David Schweickart, Radical Philosophy Review of Books

"The State and Justice demonstrates the continuing vitality and fruitfulness of Marxist approaches to social and political philosophy. It is lucidly written and replete with lively historical examples. It is essential reading for anyone interested in justice, the state, or theory of social explanation; the standard upper-division or graduate course on justice should henceforth feature Rawls, Nozick, and Fisk." The Philosophical Review

"This is an important, ambitious book. Rather than continuing the debate about what Marx thought about justice or the state, Fisk has set out to construct a materialist theory of each, and their interrelation...He draws on concrete historical and contemporary experience to a degree rare among philosophers...Fisk is bold, unconventional, provocative. Few readers will agree with everything here; fewer still will come away without new ideas buzzing in the brain." David Schweickart, Radical Philosophy Review of Books

From the Publisher