Nicos Poulantzas – författare

Nicos Poulantzas's third major work is a pioneering survey of some of the most fundamental, yet least studied, aspects of the class structure of advanced capitalist societies today. The book starts with a general theoretical essay that for the first time seriously explores the distinction between the "agents" and "positions" of capitalist relations of production, and seeks to avoid the typical errors of either functionalism or historicism. It also provides a polemical reconsideration of the problem of the "nation state" as a political unit today, and its relationship to the internationalisation of capital.Finally, and most originally, Poulantzas develops a long and powerful analysis of the much-abused concept of the "petty-bourgeoisie." In this, he scrupulously distinguishes between the "traditional" categories of petty-bourgeoisie-shopkeepers, artisans, small peasants-and the "new" categories of clerical workers, supervisors, and salaried personnel in modern industry and commerce. At the same time he demonstrates the reasons why a unitary conceptualization of their class position is possible. The difficult question of the definition of "productive" and "unproductive" labor within Marx's own account of the capitalist mode of production is subjected to a novel and radical reinterpretation. The political oscillations peculiar to each form of petty-bourgeoisie and especially their characteristic reactions to the industrial proletariat, are cogently assessed.Poulantzas ends his work with a reminder that the actions and options of the petty-bourgeoisie are critical to any successful struggle by the working class, which must secure the alliance of important sections of the petty-bourgeoisie if the fateful experience of Chile is not to recur elsewhere tomorrow. Combining empirical and theoretical materials throughout, Classes in Contemporary Capitalism represents a notable achievement in the development of Marxist social science and political thought.

Developing themes of his earlier works, Poulantzas here advances a vigorous critique of contemporary Marxist theories of the state, arguing against a general theory of the state, and identifying forms of class power crucial to socialist strategy that goes beyond the apparatus of the state.This new edition includes an introduction by Stuart Hall, which critically appraises Poulantzas's achievement.

Developing themes of his earlier works, Poulantzas here advances a vigorous critique of contemporary Marxist theories of the state, arguing against a general theory of the state, and identifying forms of class power crucial to socialist strategy that goes beyond the apparatus of the state.This new edition includes an introduction by Stuart Hall, which critically appraises Poulantzas''s achievement.

The resurgence of the far right across Europe and the emergence of the "alt-right" in the US have put the question of fascism urgently back on the agenda. For those trying to understand these forms of politics, there is no better place to start than Fascism and Dictatorship, the unrivalled Marxist study of German and Italian fascism. It carefully distinguishes between fascism as a mass movement before the seizure of power and what it becomes as an entrenched machinery of dictatorship. It compares the distinct class components of the counterrevolutionary blocs mobilised by fascism in Germany and Italy; analyses the changing relations between the petty bourgeoisie and big capital in the evolution of fascism; discusses the structures of the fascist state itself, as an emergency regime for the defence of capital; and provides a sustained and documented criticism of official Comintern attitudes and policies towards fascism in the fateful years after the Versailles settlement. Fascism and Dictatorship represents a challenging synthesis of factual evidence and conceptual analysis, a standard bearer of what Marxist political theory should be.

The resurgence of the far right across Europe and the emergence of the "alt-right" in the US have put the question of fascism urgently back on the agenda. For those trying to understand these forms of politics, there is no better place to start than Fascism and Dictatorship, the unrivalled Marxist study of German and Italian fascism. It carefully distinguishes between fascism as a mass movement before the seizure of power and what it becomes as an entrenched machinery of dictatorship. It compares the distinct class components of the counterrevolutionary blocs mobilised by fascism in Germany and Italy; analyses the changing relations between the petty bourgeoisie and big capital in the evolution of fascism; discusses the structures of the fascist state itself, as an emergency regime for the defence of capital; and provides a sustained and documented criticism of official Comintern attitudes and policies towards fascism in the fateful years after the Versailles settlement. Fascism and Dictatorship represents a challenging synthesis of factual evidence and conceptual analysis, a standard bearer of what Marxist political theory should be.

The Crisis of the Dictatorships is Nicos Poulantzas''s fourth book. It is a compact study, at once topical and theoretical, of the historical end of the reactionary and authoritarian regimes that have dominated much of Southern Europe. Poulantzas applies the categories of his now standard general works - on Political Power and Social Classes, Fascism and Dictatorship, and Classes in Contemporary Capitalism - to the specific social structures and political systems of Portugal, Spain and Greece. The international environment and the internal dynamic of class conflict in each country are surveyed. The book then assesses the ruling bloc, the popular classes and the State apparatus in Portuguese, Greek and Spanish societies. The result is a novel and powerful analysis of the causes of the fall of the Papadopoulous-Ioannides Junta, the overthrow of the Salazarist State, and the crisis of Franco''s heirs, that contrasts these with the end of German Nazism and Italian Fascism thirty years ago. The Crisis of the Dictatorships will be essential reading for all who are concerned with the political future of Europe.

"Poulantzas is a sophisticated Marxist theoretician who straddles the fields of sociology and political science. His book is one of the most thoughtful exercises in Marxist reinterpretation, and has justifiably won him widespread respect among many scholars. Recommended for all self-respecting college libraries as well as for seminars for graduate and more sophisticated seniors." Choice"This is a book which deserves a very wide audience. Of great interest for Americans is the fact that he bridges Marxist and ''Western'' social science writings with remarkable acuity. The translation is an excellent job." Journal of Politics"It is Poulantzas'' great virtue to have seen so clearly that an adequate Marxist theory of politics must be able to deal with just those phenomena which non-Marxists have regarded as decisive refutations of Marxism. His range of reference is impressive." Times Literary Supplement

Nicos Poulantzas was one of the leading Marxist theorists of the twentieth century, developing seminal analyses of the state and social classes during the crisis of monopoly capitalism. This volume brings together a wide selection of Poulantzas'' key writings in legal philosophy and political sociology, including some important pieces translated here for the first time. Texts include his early analyses of law, his studies of hegemony, authoritarianism, and social classes, and his debate on the state with Ralph Miliband and Ernesto Laclau.An essential introduction for the scholar and the student to a body of work that continues to reverberate across the social sciences.

Nicos Poulantzas was one of the leading Marxist theorists of the twentieth century, developing seminal analyses of the state and social classes during the crisis of monopoly capitalism. This volume brings together a wide selection of Poulantzas' key writings in legal philosophy and political sociology, including some important pieces translated here for the first time. Texts include his early analyses of law, his studies of hegemony, authoritarianism, and social classes, and his debate on the state with Ralph Miliband and Ernesto Laclau.An essential introduction for the scholar and the student to a body of work that continues to reverberate across the social sciences.

El libro que presentamos recoge artículos y reportajes que constituyen un aporte relevante a la reconstrucción teórica y política de Nicos Poulantzas pero que han permanecido inéditos en lengua española o su difusión ha estado restringida a un pequeño círculo de lectores.La selección ofrece intervenciones que van desde el año 1973 hasta la fecha de su trágica muerte en 1979, período en el que Poulantzas madura su teoría relacional del Estado, concepto central de su teoría política que resulta inescindible de su estrategia de socialismo democrático. Una vía que consideraba alternativa a la ofrecida por la socialdemocracia y el comunismo oficial.Los textos aquí ofrecidos representan un fresco actualizado de su teoría del Estado puesta a contraluz de los debates políticos e intelectuales del momento. Marxista atípico, teórico comprometido con su época, capaz de poner en duda las verdades más consagradas, Nicos Poulantzas sigue teniendo una vigencia, una actualidad, que se renueva con cada movimiento social y político que busca caminos de transformación y emancipación.Nicos Arístides Poulantzas nació un 21 de septiembre de 1936, apenas iniciada la restauración de la Monarquía en Grecia. Se licenció en Derecho (Universidad de Atenas) y se doctoró en la Facultad de Derecho y Ciencias Económicas de la Universidad de París. Se lo reconoce por sus aportes en sociología, ciencias políticas y teoría del Estado. Su primer acercamiento al marxismo fue a través de los círculos sartreanos, luego de los cuales se aproximó a Althusser, teórico que tuvo gran influencia en sus trabajos. Su primer gran obra fue Poder Político y Clases Sociales en el Estado capitalista, publicada pocos días antes de los eventos de Mayo del ''68. Le siguieron Fascismo y Dictadura (1971), Las clases sociales en el capitalismo actual (1974), La crisis de las dictaduras (1975) y Estado, Poder y Socialismo (1978), además de numerosos artículos y entrevistas en diarios y revistas de Francia, Grecia y otros países. Se suicidó el 3 de octubre de 1979 a los 43 años.