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In the current context serving imperialist expansion and the transfer of class contradictions, within Chinese society under the rule of bureaucratic monopoly capitalism, the distorted concept of the “state” has actually become a cover for propaganda machinery to promote social chauvinism. Amidst overwhelming “patriotism” propaganda, the so-called “Marxist party” spokespeople “intentionally or unintentionally” ignore the true essence of the state, describing the state as a super-class, “natural” entity that seemingly represents the entire people. But what is the true essence of the state?
“The state is the recognition that this society has fallen into an insoluble self-contradiction, split into irreconcilable opposites yet powerless to rid itself of these opposites. And in order to prevent these conflicting classes—whose economic interests clash—from destroying themselves and society in pointless struggles, there must be a force that appears to transcend society. This force should alleviate conflicts, keeping them within the ‘bounds of order’; this force, which arises from society but claims to be above it and increasingly alienates itself from society, is the state.”
Through Engels’ concise narration, we can clearly understand the essence of the state: the state is, under the irreconcilable class contradictions and based on the then-current class power relations, a tool that serves the victorious class (i.e., the ruling class) to rule over the oppressed classes. This completely criticizes the absurd idea held by all social chauvinists that the state is a static, super-class entity representing all citizens, as if internal contradictions do not exist within it.
In other words, the state is merely a concrete manifestation of the class power relations at a certain period within the continuous and unending class struggle. After the state’s establishment, domestic class struggles continue unabated, and the balance of class forces constantly changes. When the struggle of the oppressed classes grows stronger, the public power of the “state” belonging to the ruling class is undermined. The state apparatus can no longer operate according to the old order determined by the previous class power relations, leading to so-called “political turmoil” and “internal chaos.” The broad masses of the oppressed should recognize that these class struggles, often slandered by rulers as “rebellion,” “insurrection,” or “terrorism,” are just and justified. Apart from the “state” organized as the proletariat of the ruling class, the proletariat is not a loyal citizen of any particular state.
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