> Marx thought Bismarck was an improvement over
> the localized principalities he replaced, if only by focusing worker
> energy on a more unified target
While this would seem to be an argument for the strengthening of the WTO governing body--an ostensibly more unified target-- I would like to point out that Marx fought tooth and nail Lassalle's cooperation with Bismarck--though this does not speak to the point Nathan is making here.
However, Lassalle's social democracy resembles Nathan's. From his Bastiat Schulze: " There is no *social way* that leads out of this social situation. The vain efforts of *things* to behave like *human beings* can be seen in the English strikes whose melancholy outcome is familiar enough. *The only way* out for the workers is to be found in *that* sphere *within which* they can be still be human beings, i.e., *the state.* Hence the instinctive but infinite hatred which the liberal bourgeoisie bears the concept of the state in its every manifestation." Quoted in Lukacs' History and Class Consciousness, p. 195
I will have to revisit the Hal Draper volumes to get straight Marx's critique of Lassalle's crediting of the state with a completely utopian function, wholly alien to its concrete character. Needless to say, Marx drew a straight line from state fetishism to Lassalle's policy of adventurous illusions in Bismarck. Will need to revisit John MacGuire's book on Marx's Theory of Politics
Happy new year, everyone!
RB