Marxist Perspective Of Government

    A representative of the Marxist/radical viewpoint on the functions of government is Nnoli, according to him,  any government that is charged with the task of exercising state power on behalf of the ruling class. He goes on to the state that the most fundamental function in the performance of this duty is to ensure that the hegemony or domination of the class in the society is not only protected but indeed consolidated and perpetuated. Unless this hegemony is ensured it is difficult for the class to accomplish the objectives, which motivated it to seize state power in the first instance. An insecure ruling class is likely to devote motivated it to seize state power in the first instance. An insecure ruling class is likely to devote most of its attention and resources to retaining power. Consequently, very little attention and resources will be left for organizing the materials rewards of class rule. Not only must the government maintain enough physical force (embodied in the arm force, the police and the prisons) to crush the competition of the opposing classes if need be, but it most also organize its socialization process, its propaganda, and its distribution of material reward in such a way as to obtain the loyalty of other classes to its authority without reliance on threats or use of physical coercion. In concrete terms, Nnoli this preservation of class rule takes various forms which he goes on to enumerate as set out below:
 FIRST: It takes the form of the maintenance of law and order in the society. This is usually done with the use of: (1) the police to arrest those who violate laws of the state, that is the law established by the ruling class; (2)the judiciary to pass judgement on them and determine their punishment; (3) the prison and firing squad to incarcerate or execute them. When the police are unable to do their job the arm forces are called in. At this time the object is not to arrest but physically eliminate the culprit.
 SECOND: The task of preserving the hegemony of the class may take the form of adapting to the activities of the ruling class to change the conditions of class struggle. Thus, for example, the Colonial powers in Africa were at a certain point in time opposed to the formation of African trade unions. At another time they acceded to demands for trade union. similarly, they opposed the demand for national independence during the early period of nationalist struggle but granted independence as the nationalist forces gained tremendously in strength and were strong in position to impose unacceptable cost on Colonial rule. 
 THIRD: The maintenance of law and order as well as the adaptation of the society to changing conditions require the government to make regulations governing the activities of all members of the society. The legislature debate and pass laws. The military regime formulates and impose decrees. In this way the population is made aware of what is adjudge to be an acceptable behavior either in the place of work, the use of public facilities, in the organization of economic, social or political enterprises, or in interpersonal relations and transactions. In many societies this regulatory function of government stands out very clearly. Whether in the establishment of a system of health services, the government regulates the activities and behavior of individuals. Government regulations seem to be ubiquitous. They are found in economic, social, political and even cultural relations. In both domestic and external affairs they also make their presence felt.
  FOURTH: The government seeks to create a stable pattern of expectations in all spheres of life of the society. An important priority here is the orderly transfer of governmental powers from one group of the ruling class to another. This concerns the problem of achieving political stability. If the government changes frequently and arbitrarily the populace is very likely to be frustrated and consequently disenchanted not only with the successive government but also with the rule of the class. This situation may aid the rival classes to successfully overthrow the ruling class. Similarly, sharp,severe and persistent deterioration of the economic and socio-cultural orders may generate a momentum capable of sweeping away the ruling class.
 FIFTH: And finally, the government performs the functions of pattern maintenance through 'tension management' . It seeks to resolve all the conflict in the society in such a way that they do not get out of hand and cause severe difficulties for the hegemony of the ruling class. In respect to this conflict among individuals, groups and sections or factions of ruling class are crucial. This conflict must be subordinated to overall class solidarity when challenged by rival classes. For example, in 1964, the Nigerian ruling class was able to achieve unanimity against the general strike of that year in spite of severely strained political differences. although African leaders are usually divided along Ethnic lines they quickly close ranks when conflicts with the student or workers on ideological and economic matters.