By the administrative state, I mean Lenin's idea of a 'non-political' state in which the majority of society actively participates in the administration of the state. This is paired with the concept of socialist democracy, 'democracy for the majority' as capitalist democracy was for the minority.

Eventually, as nearly the whole of the people have made a habit of the systems of administration, of bookkeeping and of managing, the state begins to wither away. At the end, as class distinctions have been practically eradicated, the state loses its political character and its functions are reduced to mere bookkeeping. It is sweeped into the 'dustbin of history', next to the 'Museum of Antiquities', as Engels put it.

Could mass participation in parties like say the CPC, which has ~100 million members be considered an expression of this? Or have we not reached nearly far enough in the development of Socialism in any country to reach this stage?

I just thought this was a really interesting concept in The State and Revolution, people usually don't explain how exactly the state will wither away, but Lenin's theory here seems to be quite sound.

  • Cowbee [he/him, they/them]
    ·
    5 months ago

    The characteristics of such a state as it withers are already in existence in socialist countries, but in order for it to truly become non-political, a matter of habit, and the old present state be swept into the dustbin of history, advanced socialism to early communism must be met. Class struggle is still alive in every socialist country, especially when we consider imperialism remaining as the primary contradiction, the state in the process of withering exists but cannot truly complete that process without the full abolition of the basis of class society. Production and distribution must be fully collectivized, not even the DPRK has reached such a level of collectivization yet.

    The state withers by collectivizing production and distribution, therefore erasing the basis of class, therefore erasing the basis of class struggle, thereby erasing the basis of the state. The creation of a socialist state is the creation of a state that must wither, and cannot help but wither unless catastrophe strikes as it did in the USSR.