Poulantzas's state theory: Inquiring the possibilities of a relational approach

In the scope of this thesis, which focuses on Poulantzas's capitalist state theory within the framework of the relational approach presented in his latest works, it is aimed to examine the continuity and transitivity of the approach from his early works by following his theorizing of the state as a relation crystallized in his conceptualisation of "material condensation of power relations between social classes" as opposed to positioning the state as a Subject or the state as an instrument/object. Leaving behind his early works on philosophy of law, Poulantzas developed his theory on capitalist state from a philosophical and theoretical standpoint, which is referred as criticism of the historicist current of Marxism, that he shares with Althusser. Furthermore, Poulantzas positions the capitalist state on the basis of "relative autonomy" with reference to the relations of production and class struggle; and uses conceptualisations of hegemonic class, class fractions and power bloc articulated with the inspirations by Gramsci's hegemony theory. Later on, Poulantzas integrated his approach with the emphasis on social division of labour in its relation to capitalist state; and presented the theme of state as a social relation along with the institutional materiality of the capitalist state. Drawing on a critical interpretation of Foucault's analysis on power, Poulantzas developed the conceptualisation of the capitalist state as a "strategic field and process", as opposed to the presentation of relations between state, power and class in the form of a relation of externality. Poulantzas asserted that the theory of the capitalist state cannot be isolated from the issues of its "metamorphoses", within his distinctive perspective on relation between abstract-formal and concrete-real, and developed his theory with respect to his emphasis on the concepts of social formation and conjuncture. He focused on the transformations and the differential forms of the type of the capitalist state by questioning the changing relations between the state, class struggle and economy on the basis of his concept of "crisis". In this thesis, it is concluded that even if it has been evolved with some adjustments, Poulantzas's theory cannot be evaluated within the framework of a "break" between structuralism and relationality as a simplifying approach. Within this perspective, Poulantzas's approach which takes its roots deeply in the classics of Marxism, examined in the context of its dialogue with the theories of Althusser and Gramsci, and it is asserted that this dual effect maintained its existence from early days to the end of his work. Keywords: Marxist State Theory, Capitalist State, Power, Social Classes, Class Fractions, Relative Autonomy, Power Bloc, Hegemonic Class, State as a Social Relation, Relational Approach