Beyond a general theory of Capitalist State: the “strong” Latin American thought and the challenges of global capitalism

Abstract

This paper identifies some theoretical contributions made by the “strong” Latin American thought in order to comprehend the capitalist State, as well as those elements that can contribute to the understanding of State transformations during the neoliberal globalization. To this end, we turn to aspects from Dependency Theory which addressed the specificities of the State and capitalism in the region, as well as the contributions made by thinkers such as Kaplan and Zavaleta regarding the debates prompted by Nikos Poulantzas on the capitalist State. Finally, criticisms made to this current of thought by scholars of the State and Global Capitalism are highlighted, considering that although it is necessary to rethink the rigidity of categories such as the North and the South, the legacy of “strong” Latin American thought continues to represent a vigorous contribution to understanding the transformations of the capitalist State in Latin America during globalization.