For the only great men among the unfree and the oppressed are those who struggle to destroy the oppressor.
Walter RodneyRead
After all, if there is no class stratification in a society, it follows that there is no state, because the state arose as an instrument to be used by a particular class to control the rest of society in its own interests.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that a society without class divisions cannot have a state, as the state exists to manage class interests.
Walter Rodney emphasizes the relationship between class stratification and the existence of the state. He argues that the state is fundamentally an instrument wielded by a dominant class to exert control over the rest of society, and in the absence of such divisions, the need for a governing authority designated to enforce one class's interests vanishes. This insight invites readers to consider how power hierarchies shape societal structures and governance.
Themes
ClassSocietyStatePowerControl
In practice
Example use cases
In a political debate about wealth inequality, a speaker can use this quote to argue against economic hierarchies.
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