A Study Of Theda·skocpol’s View Of State

Theda Skocpol is a prominent figure in the "return to the state" school of thought,whose academic research has demonstrated the explanatory power of the state centralism.However,much of the domestic academic research on Skocpol’s theory of the state has primarily focused on her concept of state autonomy,while to some extent neglecting her discussion of the social and political foundations of the state.In reality,Skocpol’s theory of the state encompasses not only research on state autonomy,but also the investigation of state capacity,which examines the source of state power.The dialectical relationship between state autonomy and state capacity constitutes Skocpol’s theory of the state.State autonomy emphasizes the independence and autonomy of the state in formulating policies and actions,but this autonomy is also limited by state capacity.In Skocpol’s view,state capacity is not an abstract concept;it refers to the ability of the state to exercise power and influence in the political,economic,military and other fields,which is reflected domestically as the political legitimacy brought by the social and political foundation,and internationally as the influence based on military power,economic development level,and ideology.State capacity and autonomy are related but not entirely consistent concepts.State autonomy needs to be based on state capacity and supported by domestic social and political foundations,while also considering the impact of international power structures and mechanisms.Theda Skocpol adopts a historical institutionalist perspective and interprets the role of institutional change in the process of state development from the two dimensions of state autonomy and state capacity,providing a strong analytical framework for studying the relationship between the state and society,and broadening the thinking of state research.However,Skocpol’s theory of the state overemphasizes the unity and integrity of the state,lacks attention to non-state actors,and has been controversial.In summary,although Skocpol’s theory of the state still has some theoretical shortcomings,it still has important theoretical value and practical significance for exploring how states can improve their governance capacity.