Statism
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In political science, statism is the belief that the state should control either economic or social policy, or both, to some degree.[1] Statism is effectively the opposite of anarchism,[1] an individual who supports the existence of the state is a statist.
The term "statism" was introduced to American political discourse by the writer Ayn Rand[2] in a series of articles in 1962.[3][4] Since that time, it has been adopted for use by other political analysts.[5]
Contents
Forms of statism
Statism can take many forms from minarchism to totalitarianism. Minarchists prefer a minimal or night-watchman state to protect people from aggression, theft, breach of contract, and fraud with military, police, and courts.[6] Some may also include fire departments, prisons, and other functions.[6] Welfare state adepts and other such options make up more statist territory of the scale of statism.[7][8] Totalitarians prefer a maximum or all-encompassing state.[9][10]
State, society and individuals
Some analysts[11] use a dichotomy between state and market, viewing the state as a homogeneous institution capable of using political power to force policy on the market which is the sum of peaceful human action. Such an analysis depends on an elitist theory of power rather than a pluralist theory of power; that power is exercised by individuals and competing organisations within society.[12]
Authoritarianism, on the other hand, views a strong, authoritative state as required to legislate or enforce morality and cultural practices.[13][14] The ideology of statism espoused by fascism holds that sovereignty is not vested in the people but in the nation state, and that all individuals and associations exist only to enhance the power, prestige and well-being of the state. It repudiates individualism and the family and exalts the nation as an organic body headed by the Supreme Leader and nurtured by unity, force, and discipline.[15] Fascism and some forms of corporatism extol the moral position that the corporate group, usually the state, is greater than the sum of its parts and that individuals have a moral obligation to serve the state.[15]
Economic statism
Economic statism promotes the view that the state has a major, necessary, and legitimate role in directing the economy, either directly through state-owned enterprises and other types of machinery of government, or indirectly through economic planning.[16]
State interventionism
The term statism is sometimes used to refer to market economies with large amounts of government intervention, regulation or influence over a market or mixed-market economy. Economic interventionism asserts that the state has a legitimate or necessary role within the framework of a capitalist economy by intervening in markets, attempting to promote economic growth and trying to enhance employment levels.
State socialism
State socialism broadly refers to forms of socialism based on state ownership of the means of production and state-directed allocation of resources. It is often used in reference to Soviet-type economic systems of former Communist states.
In some cases, when used in reference to Soviet-type economies, state socialism is used interchangeably with state capitalism[17] on the basis that the Soviet model of economics was actually based upon a process of state-directed capital accumulation and social hierarchy.[18]
Politically, state socialism is often used to designate any socialist political ideology or movement that advocates for the use of state power for the construction of socialism, or to the belief that the state must be appropriated and used to ensure the success of a socialist revolution. It is usually used in reference to Marxist-Leninist socialists who champion a single-party state.
State capitalism
Statism may be used to refer to state capitalism. State capitalism refers to forms of capitalism that feature high concentrations of state-owned commercial enterprises.
In some cases, state capitalism refers to economic policies such as dirigisme, which existed in France during the second half of the 20th century; and to the present-day economies of the People's Republic of China and Singapore, where the government owns controlling shares in publicly traded companies.[19] Some authors also define the former economies of the Eastern bloc as constituting a form of state capitalism.
See also
References
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- ↑ "The term “statism” was tirelessly promoted by Ayn Rand. A computer search of her published works for “statism” or “statist” gives over 300 hits. She described statism as the idea that 'man’s life and work belong to the state–to society, to the group, the gang, the race, the nation–and that the state may dispose of him in any way it pleases for the sake of whatever it deems to be its own, tribal, collective good'.” --Binswanger, Harry, Forbes, Nov 13, 2013.
- ↑ Rand, Ayn, “Introducing Objectivism,” The Objectivist Newsletter, Aug. 1962, p. 35
- ↑ Rand, Ayn, “War and Peace,” The Objectivist Newsletter, Oct. 1962, p. 44
- ↑ Binswanger, Harry, "Statism: Whether Fascist or Communist, It's The Deadly Opposite of Capitalism," Forbes, Nov 13, 2013 (accessed Nov. 12 2015).
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- ↑ Jones, R. J. Barry. "STATISM." Routledge Encyclopedia of International Political Economy. 1st. Volume 3. New York, New York: Taylor & Francis, 2001. Print.
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- ↑ Leviathan in Business: Varieties of State Capitalism and Their Implications for Economic Performance, by Musacchio, Aldo. 2012.
