LIBERAL,MARXIAN AND GANDHIAN VIEW OF THE STATE By: Kiran Sharma Associate professor Department of Political Science Post Graduate Govt. College, Sec-11,Chandigarh

LIBERAL VIEW ABOUT THE STATE The liberal view point is the most ancient and also the most popular view point about the state. Its history can be traced back to the views of the great Greek philosophers Plato and Aristotle. This theory became popular in 16th century against the absolutism of the state, arbitrariness of feudals ,and strict control of church over the life of the individual. Liberalism stood as a guardian of the liberty of the individual. Plato ,Aristotle ,Locke ,Montesquieu ,Rousseau ,Adam Smith ,Bentham , J.S. Mill ,Herbert Spencer , T.H. Green ,Carlyle , Robert A. Dahl etc. are the main advocates of this theory.

Variations of views amongst liberal thinkers Thinkers like Locke ,Adam Smith & Herbert Spencer etc. regard the state as a ‘necessary evil’ and favor its limited sphere of action. Modern liberal thinkers like J.S.Mill , T.H.Green , Carlyle etc. regard state as a welfare institution and favor giving maximum functions to it. Plato ,Aristotle ,MacIver and Green etc. regard the state as a natural institution. Hobbes ,Locke & Rousseau view it as an artificial institution. Contemporary thinkers like David Easton , Robert A. Dahl and Almond and powell regard the state as a ‘political system’which utilises its supreme power to convert the ‘demands’ of the people into ‘decisions’ and ‘policies’ of the state.

Two Forms of Liberalism CLASSICAL OR TRADITIONAL OR NEGATIVE LIBERALISM ______________________________ Supporters: John Locke , Herbert Spencer and Adam Smith . Views the state as ‘necessary evil’ . Supports individualism. Maximum freedom to the individual. Limits the jurisdiction of the state . This was advocated by the capitalist class to serve their ends. Due to the policy of non-interference of state the problems of poverty , exploitation , unemployment, illiteracy etc. MODERN OR CONTEMPORARY OR POSITIVE LIBERALISM Supporters : Carlyle Bentham , J.S. Mill and T.H. Green Starting from the end of 19th century , the supporters of positive liberalism opposed the contention of the non-interference of the state and advocated that the state should undertake more and more welfare activities for the citizens. State was seen as a means for social –economic transformation. This was a reaction to Marxism which shook the roots of capitalist society.

Liberalist’s Views about the Nature of the State State is a man made institution Distinction between state and society: society is natural and instinctive , the state is the creation of the will and reason. State is a necessary evil ; state is necessary because there are certain functions like defense , foreign affairs , currency etc. which the individual himself cannot do. State is an evil as because with the use of laws the state curtails the liberty of the individual and becomes an obstacle in the way of his progress. State is an association like other associations State is not an end but a means ; state is a mere means for the all round development and welfare of the individual.

Limited sphere of state activities ; traditional liberalists were of the opinion that the state should undertake only those activities which the individual is incapable of undertaking. They considered that state the best which governs the least . But modern liberalists consider the state a welfare institution and are assigning the state more and more functions State is an instrument of reconciliation of conflicting interests as it looks after the interests of all . State is the protector of rights and also punishes the violators of these rights State serves common interest : Charles E. Merriam says ,” The ends and purpose of the Government may be simply stated as follows; external security , internal order , justice , general welfare and freedom .” Supporters of democratic government

Criticism of Liberal Viewpoint Lack of consistency : liberalism has undergone modification from time to time. Traditional or classical liberalists considered the state as a ‘ necessary evil’ whereas the modern liberalists consider it an essential institution of Public Welfare.Some consider state as a natural institution whereas others consider it an artificial institution. State is a source of rights and not just a protector of rights State is not a man-made institution .The state is a growth , and the result of a gradual evolution. Functions of the state cannot be limited.

Criticism by Marxists: Marxists are of the opinion that state is a class institution which came into existence in order to protect the interests of the ruling class. It exploits the ruled State is not an association like other associations : the liberalists believe in the plural nature of the state but this is not true as the state is the only institution which is soveriegn and exercises control over all other associations within the state State is not an evil : Present state is a welfare institution and it provides wide range of services to the people.

Marxist View about the State Karl Marx , Lenin , Engels , Gramsci , Mao-tse-Tung and Trotesky etc. are the prominent advocates of Marxist theory. According to Marxist ,state is a class organisation which has been created by the capitalists in order to safe guard their interests. State is an artificial association which is destined to wither away and give way to a stateless and classless society

Nature of State according to the Marxists State is a class organisation and it always protects the interests of the class which controls production and means of production . According to Lenin, “ The state is nothing but the machine of suppression of one class by another.” State is not a natural and ethical institution : State is an instrument of exploitation of the poor by the rich Class antagonism responsible for the origin of the state . State is the result of evolutionary process: State gradually developed with the development of the institution of private property. State protects the interests of ruling class

State is a means : The class which had control over the state power made use of it for the promotion and protection of their interest. State cannot create unity and harmony in society: the state which itself is a class institution , is incapable of creating unity and harmony in society. Force is the basis of state Welfare state is a means to save the Capitalist Order State is a temporary institution and it shall wither away State is an artificial institution which came into existence at a particular stage of social development when the capitalist class felt the need of it for the protection of their interests. Thus , the state if the result of class struggle between two antagonistic classes .

Criticism of Marxist view of State State is not the product of class struggle alone : Many other factors like blood relations, religion , social nature of the individual , force and political consciousness have also significantly contributed in the emergence of the state State does not protect the interest of one particular class alone : The spirit of public welfare has become so popular that each state endeavors to become a welfare institution Stateless society is not possible : on the contrary , the importance of the state is even increasing and the individual is becoming more dependent on state

State is not an artificial institution . Marxist vision of ‘new society’ is not real Abolition of capitalist classes has given birth to new Ruling Class State is not an instrument of exploitation rather , it is a means of public welfare The basis of the state are not economic forces only Force is not the basis of the state : According to T.H. Green , “Will , not force is the basis of the state.”

Gandhian View about State M.K. Gandhi did not accept the contention that the state was a natural or divine institution and he was very much opposed to the nature of the present state. He was in favor of ending the state and establishing a stateless and classless society wherein an individual should be able to breathe freely. Gandhi’s ideal society would be completely decentralized and without an iota of exploitation of any kind. He called such a society ‘Rama Rajya’.

Thus, according to Gandhism : The State is a soulless machine , the position of the individual in a state is just like a cog in a machine. The basis of present state is force and violence The state uses coercive force in order to fulfill its objectives. State is a means and not the end. Limited functions of state.

State cannot claim sovereignty over individual and an individual can oppose the corrupt laws of the state. Supported an enlightened Anarchical State when the people become eligible to run their administration on their own State hinders the development of individual’s personality Gandhi advocated a non-violent nation state.

Criticism of the Gandhian view of state State is not an evil State cannot be abolished. Centralization is the need of the time. Violence is not the only basis of the State. Ideal state is impractical. State is a natural institution. Function of the state cannot be limited

Along with small-scale and cottage industries the development of big industries is also essential. State helps in the development of individual’s personality State is a sovereign body Non-violent nation state is impractical. Enlightened anarchical state is a myth.