this post was submitted on 24 Jul 2025
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I'm an idiot, what specifically is added by the descriptor "ready-made" in this context?
It's a quote from Marx talking about why the Paris Commune adopted different political forms than that of the republicans. Saying "ready-made" in this case would be saying that the form of government of an insurgent working class is essentially different from the typical bourgeois state, and that the working class can't simply try to operate the bourgeois state, ready-made because it already exists. Effectively this means that Marx is clear that in order for the working class to free itself, the bourgeois state must be destroyed and replaced by a government created by the working class, and, judging by the Commune and later experiences, will be constructed amid the struggle to destroy the bourgeois state.
Sorry if that's a lot for an innocuous question. But if you're still curious, for fuller context:
Later on in the same section Marx describes the different political form of the Commune, mentioning mandated revocable delegation in place of representation, combining executive and legislative functions into the assemblies of delegates, and so on.
God I wish there were more like you Ian. Superb work and mucho thankso
@Provinto@lemmy.ml gave an excellent answer, but I figured I'd take my shot at simplifying further.
Essentially, the bourgeois state is formed over time to support bourgeois society. A revolution that tries to wield it in its own favor has to contend with the fact that over time, the state as a superstructure is fully compatible with its respective base, capitalism. In order to change the base and superstructure, an entirely new state needs to take its place, not just in name but in structure, otherwise the old superstructure left hanging will wrest back control, like what happened at the Paris Commune.