Polycentric Governing: A Marxist Interpretation

Abstract A structural, Marxist, Gramscian approach brings a historical materialist understanding to polycentric governing. It highlights the class character of social relations, of the state, and of governing more generally, all within the context of capital accumulation on a world scale. The chapter argues that polycentric governing is historically specific, closely (albeit not exclusively) associated with the countries of advanced capitalism. Moreover, polycentric governing affects some issue areas more than others. Polycentric governing is primarily defined by its social purpose to promote maximum freedom of movement for capital. Polycentric governing has not always had its current prominence, nor will it remain so forever. From a historical-materialist perspective, power is the most fundamental of the three issues highlighted in this volume: the art of governing is the art of reproducing class power. If done skilfully, most people see the resulting social order as legitimate, which following Gramsci entails hegemony. Techniques refers to how polycentric governing is done concretely; and how the ruling class arranges its hegemony. The organization of hegemony enables specific class coalitions to pursue their interests as if they constitute the ‘general interest’. The chapter identifies three exemplary ‘techniques’ class influence over state policy; the role of the (largely corporatized) media (both old and new); and the disciplinary power that control over finance (in particular through debt) allows the ruling class to reproduce its class power. The chapter illustrates how these insights apply in the context of both the national state and the transnational level of the global political economy.