What are the most pressing questions in Marxist theory?
BO: There are many, but heres my short list, and therefore, too questions that I have tried and am still trying to address. First, state theory. Marx wanted to do a systematic study of the state, particularly of the capitalist state, but, as with so much else, didnt get around to it. Theres a lot in his writings that gives us an idea of what he thought, but the systematic theory of the state – something comparable to what he gave us on value – is still to be done. My own work in this area has been mainly on the role of dialectics in constructing the changing boundaries of the state and the part played by alienation and ideology in state functioning. My main writings on these topics appear in Dialectical Investigations and, my most recent book, Dance of the Dialectic. Another important set of questions relate to the communist future. Again, Marx didnt give us a detailed picture of what socialism and communism would be like, but theres not work of any size that doesnt offer some informat
