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.

Promotional Information

This book offers a political theory combining elements from the Marxist and liberal traditions.

Reviews

"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