Marxism, what you got?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Marx and Engels were referring to the demise of ‘the State’ as a concept, not to any particular state. The signs you mention would seem to be indicative of either a change in the way a State is managed, or increasing the power of that State. If the US were to become a theocratic dictatorship, for example, or a corporate fascism, it would still be a State.

I'm saying those are the demise of the state as people have less confidence in it as a whole. I don't really see this as merely changing states

Worldwide, the concept of a State seems stronger than ever. Marx’s notion that society would evolve to the point where laws could be done away with (because people would naturally want to behave themselves without coercion) seems as far-fetched as ever.

I must disagree I think people are becoming less about state coercion and more about pro civic behavior 

And social programmes are socialist in essence, if not in name. This can’t be sensibly denied.

Boru

Social programs neither started with socialism nor are they their essence so it can be sensibly denied. Unless you're going to tell me the Fascist states were socialists because they had social programs or The Romans were Socialists because they gave out free bread.

National Socialist German Workers Party.

Mussolini (ostensibly, at least) wanted to do away with social classes.

While the Romans may not have been socialist per se, giving food to people who needed it is certainly an idea of which Marx would have approved.

But - essentially - I agree that social programmes do not Socialism make. As I said earlier, all modern economies are, to some extent, blended. 

Boru