I can offer the Marxist theory of the purpose of a state under capitalism: Capitalism inherently causes conflict, buyer and seller need each other yet each one would do better materially by ensuring the other does worse. Boss needs to pay workers in order to profit, but also the less he pays them the more he profits. Marx thought under capitalism the government exists to remedy these types of conflicts as well as the general conflict between the ownership class and the worker class.
If a state doesn’t give a crap about its citizens, doesn’t defend its citizens from other states, what’s the point of a state at all?
I can offer the Marxist theory of the purpose of a state under capitalism: Capitalism inherently causes conflict, buyer and seller need each other yet each one would do better materially by ensuring the other does worse. Boss needs to pay workers in order to profit, but also the less he pays them the more he profits. Marx thought under capitalism the government exists to remedy these types of conflicts as well as the general conflict between the ownership class and the worker class.