Explanation: I've a feeling I've come across this on more than one occasion; perhaps you could try a quick Google to see just how common it is?
If not, I think your 'machinery of Government' is better, 'the very running of the country' is getting too far away from it, IMO --- the 'controversies' are 'in Government circles', not 'in the running of the country' --- see what I mean?
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 17 hrs 18 mins (2006-01-12 14:30:40 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
As CB has kindly pointed out, 'apparatus of state' might well fit better in the given sentence; my only tiny reservation, upon reflection, is that I have a nagging feeling that this is sometimes used in a different context, in connection with things pomp and regal, like the 'State Coach' --- can't really remember, just a vague idea in the back of my mind...
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 day 55 mins (2006-01-12 22:07:17 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
OED says that 'apparat' meant "The Communist Party machine in the former USSR and other countries."
Naïve? I always thought 'apparatchik' meant you had a cool blender!
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 day 58 mins (2006-01-12 22:09:59 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Explanation: attention> state machinery often refers to actual machines belonging to a State and thus, in this context, ought to be avoided.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 6 mins (2006-01-11 21:18:04 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
In his "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatus," Louis Althusser summarizes his
... Nevertheless, every State Apparatus-whether repressive or ideological ... www.eng.fju.edu.tw/Literary_ Criticism/marxism/althusser.html
SwissTell United States Works in field Native speaker of: German PRO pts in category: 4
Explanation: I've a feeling I've come across this on more than one occasion; perhaps you could try a quick Google to see just how common it is?
If not, I think your 'machinery of Government' is better, 'the very running of the country' is getting too far away from it, IMO --- the 'controversies' are 'in Government circles', not 'in the running of the country' --- see what I mean?
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 17 hrs 18 mins (2006-01-12 14:30:40 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
As CB has kindly pointed out, 'apparatus of state' might well fit better in the given sentence; my only tiny reservation, upon reflection, is that I have a nagging feeling that this is sometimes used in a different context, in connection with things pomp and regal, like the 'State Coach' --- can't really remember, just a vague idea in the back of my mind...
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 day 55 mins (2006-01-12 22:07:17 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
OED says that 'apparat' meant "The Communist Party machine in the former USSR and other countries."
Naïve? I always thought 'apparatchik' meant you had a cool blender!
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 day 58 mins (2006-01-12 22:09:59 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
The translation workplace 
