withering away of the state

English

Etymology

Coined by Friedrich Engels in 1878 for his work, "Anti-Dühring", from Calque of German der Staat wird nicht „abgeschafft“, er stirbt ab (“the state is not "abolished", it atrophies”)

Noun

withering away of the state (uncountable)

1. (politics, Marxism, communism) The proposed situation where, in a classless society, people govern themselves as a commune without needing a government or law enforcement.

Translations

withering away of the state

• Greek: απονέκρωση του κράτους f (aponékrosi tou krátous)