Perspectives of capitalism and socialism in the search for a class theory of the state and democracy

The crisis of contemporary political science and social science, in general, reflectsthe crisis in both capitalism and socialism. The search for theoretical alternatives in order to resolvethe crisis has involved redirection rather than a new direction. This paper first examinesvarious post-forms of society, specifically post-liberalism, post-imperialism, and post-Marxismand affirms that, while these conceptions may be innovative and provocative, neverthelessthey do not allow for the shaping of new paradigms. Second, the paper critically examinesmajor themes of the 1990s and concludes with the observation that intellectuals differ over thedirection of development once questions become of fundamental preference for capitalism orsocialism; over questions of the state because of their use of either class or non-class analyses;and over questions of socialism and democracy because of their inclination to favor eitherindirect or direct forms of participation in the political process. Thus, the preference for eithercapitalism or socialism may shape ideals and distort realities so that the production of newideas may be nothing other than the reproduction of old ideas in a new guise. JEL Classification: P51.