Revisiting the Miliband-Poulantzas debate: How to get to know the capitalist state?

Abstract

This paper presents a critical analysis of the 1970’s famous debate between Ralph Miliband and Nicos Poulantzas around the capitalist state focusing on the method performed by both authors to address the problem. The main argument is that the central problems in which both positions relapsed, as well as the fate of the debate, are explained by the use of a scientific method which is completely alien to that performed by Marx in his critique of political economy. In Miliband’s case, it is the method of 'hypothesis testing' based on the classical positivism, while in Poulantzas’ case it is the method of the 'logical consistency of the theory', the typical of neopositivists currents. On this basis, the paper ends with a brief and schematic presentation of a research program based on an alternative methodological approach in line with the Marxian legacy.