The article critically examines the potential of the idea of the state as a platform. The author highlights technocratic, consumer and political approaches to the implementation of ideas in practice, evaluates Russian idea of the state as a platform. The article considers contextual conditions for the transition to the platforms, gives their definition, as well as approaches to the classification of platform species. The importance of ensuring state governability through collaboration of citizens, business, NGOs and the state on the formed technological platforms is emphasized. Participatory governability is a special network effect of multilateral interaction. Criticism of the consumer approach to the state as a platform takes into account the exhaustiveness of the concept of a new public management and the need to take into account the co-political content of the platforms.