Yapısalcılıktan İlişkiselliğe Poulantzas’ın Devlet Kuramı
POULANTZAS’ THEORY OF THE STATE: FROM STRUCTURALISM TO THE RELATIONAL APPROACH

Summary/Abstract: In this article, Nicos Poulantzas’ theory of the state is evaluated. By evaluating this theory, it is aimed that Poulantzas’ cited ideas on transformation of the state can be influential, only it is understood from a perspective that traces the shift from structuralism to relational approach in his work. Firstly, one of the constituent elements of Nicos Poulantzas’ theory of the state, the philosophy of Louis Althusser is examined. Then Poulantzas’ thoughts on the state are examined in detail. The state’s role in building the social cohesion is noted. The importance of the notions such as isolation effect, hegemony and power bloc is emphasised. Poulantzas’ ideas on the relative autonomy of the political, Bonapartist and bureaucracy are mentioned. Than the change of scope in Poulantzas’s theory is focused on. The relational approach which evaluates the state as the condensation of a relationship of forces between classes is mentioned. It is argued that Poulantzas’ step from seeing the state as a structural entity utilized in building the social cohesion to conceiving it as a relation is an improvement. It is concluded that the relational approach generated by Nicos Poulantzas can be guiding for the critique of instrumentalist and economist approaches within Marxism and also for understanding the fundamental elements and dichotomies of neoliberal state. His theory of exceptional state is examined by his relational approach which adopts more relational concepts like class struggle, political crisis and international conjuncture.

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