Nicos Poulantzas, a Marxist political theorist, is known for advocating the concept of the relative autonomy of the state. This concept suggests that the state, while influenced by the economic base, possesses a degree of independence to act in the interests of the ruling class. Poulantzas emphasized that the state mediates conflicts between various fractions of the ruling class and implements policies to stabilize capitalism. His work contributed to neo-Marxist theories on the role of the state in society.