Authority in the Modern State

work by Laski

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July 15, 2026

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Harold Joseph Laski's Authority in the Modern State (1919) challenged the concept of an all-powerful, sovereign state. Laski, a British political scientist and member of the Labour Party, argued for political pluralism, suggesting that authority is distributed among various groups rather than concentrated solely in the state. This contrasted with his later work, Grammar of Politics (1925), where he defended the state as society's fundamental instrument. Laski's views evolved, particularly during the Great Depression, leading him to embrace Marxism and question the stability of capitalism and its potential impact on democracy. He saw socialism as an alternative to rising fascism.1

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Harold Joseph Laski
During this period he wrote Authority in the Modern State (1919) and The Foundations of Sovereignty, and Other Essays (1921). In both works he attacked the notion of an all-powerful sovereign state, arguing instead for political pluralism. In his Grammar of Politics (1925), however, he defended the opposite position, viewing…
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During this period he wrote Authority in the Modern State (1919) and The Foundations of Sovereignty, and Other Essays (1921). In both works he attacked the notion of an all-powerful sovereign state, arguing instead for political pluralism. In his Grammar of Politics (1925), however, he defended the opposite position, viewing…
Read More