The State in Theory and Practice

Harold Joseph Laski's The State in Theory and Practice (1935) examines the concept of the state, particularly in the context of the economic challenges of capitalism during the Great Depression. Laski, a British political scientist and member of the Labour Party, moved towards Marxism in his analysis of the "crisis in democracy".1

In this work, Laski argued that capitalism's economic difficulties could threaten political democracy. He posited socialism as an alternative to the rise of fascism. The book explores the state's role in society and its theoretical underpinnings, contrasting different historical and philosophical perspectives on governance and power. Laski's work is part of a broader discourse on political science that includes thinkers like Harold Lasswell, who focused on power dynamics and political behavior.123