Social democracy and structural dependency: The British case. A note on Hay

Politics and Society

Volumn 25, Issue 2, 1997, Pages 257-265

  Wickham Jones, Mark ^a  

^a NONE

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EID: 0031286140     PISSN: 00323292     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/0032329297025002006     Document Type: Article

References (33)

1. 1. Tony Blair, speech, British American Chamber of Commerce, 11 April 1996, 4.
2. 2. Tony Blair, "The Mais lecture," 22 May 1995, 13.
3. 3. Adam Przeworski and Michael Wallerstein, "Structural Dependence of the State on Capital," American Political Science Association 82, no. 1 (March 1988): 11-30.
4. 4. Mark Wickham-Jones, "Anticipating Social Democracy, Pre-Empting Anticipations: Economic Policy-Making in the British Labor Party, 1987-1992," Politics & Society 23, no. 4 (December 1995): 464-94.
5. 5. For reasons of space, I will not examine all the points made by Hay: for example, I will address neither his analysis of the United Kingdom's economic decline (with which I am in sympathy) nor the parallel he draws between the Conservative Party in opposition during the 1970s and the present position of the Labour Party (of which I am critical).
6. 6. On the fractured nature of capital, see John Bowman, Capitalist Collective Action (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989). On short-termism, see Will Hutton, The State We're In (London: Jonathan Cape, 1995), 159-60. For a general discussion of the structural dependence of the state upon capital, see Desmond King and Mark Wickham-Jones, "Social Democracy and Rational Choice Marxism," in Rational Choice Marxism, ed. Terrell Carver and Paul Thomas (London: Macmillan, 1995), 200-30.
7. 6. On the fractured nature of capital, see John Bowman, Capitalist Collective Action (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989). On short-termism, see Will Hutton, The State We're In (London: Jonathan Cape, 1995), 159-60. For a general discussion of the structural dependence of the state upon capital, see Desmond King and Mark Wickham-Jones, "Social Democracy and Rational Choice Marxism," in Rational Choice Marxism, ed. Terrell Carver and Paul Thomas (London: Macmillan, 1995), 200-30.
8. 6. On the fractured nature of capital, see John Bowman, Capitalist Collective Action (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989). On short-termism, see Will Hutton, The State We're In (London: Jonathan Cape, 1995), 159-60. For a general discussion of the structural dependence of the state upon capital, see Desmond King and Mark Wickham-Jones, "Social Democracy and Rational Choice Marxism," in Rational Choice Marxism, ed. Terrell Carver and Paul Thomas (London: Macmillan, 1995), 200-30.
9. 7. Such a judgment does not weaken the conceptual importance of the theory. Adam Przeworski concludes, "My view is that all governments are to some degree dependent on capital but that this dependence is not so binding as to make democracy as sham." See A. Przeworski, Democracy and the Market (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991), 14, fn. 9.
10. 8. I agree with Hay that the generality of conclusions generated by structural dependence theory is problematic, and I note the existence of cases which appear to refute its sweeping conclusions. Indeed in coauthored work I have articulated similar criticisms to those made by Hay on this matter. Nevertheless the relationships at the heart of the modified version of the theory provide a clear setting within which to assess social democratic policy-making.
11. 9. See Adam Przeworski, Capitalism and Social Democracy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985), 3, and Gosta Esping-Andersen, Politics Against Markets (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1985), 10.
12. 9. See Adam Przeworski, Capitalism and Social Democracy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1985), 3, and Gosta Esping-Andersen, Politics Against Markets (Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1985), 10.
13. 10. Peter Swenson, "Bringing Capital Back in, or Social Democracy Reconsidered," World Politics 43 (1991): 69-96.
14. 11. Wickham-Jones, "Anticipating Social Democracy."
15. 12. Ton Notermans, "Social Democracy in Open Economies: A Reply to Jonathan Moses," Politics & Society 22, no. 2 (June 1994): 149-64.
16. 13. Ton Notermans, "The Abdication from National Policy Autonomy: Why the Macroeconomic Policy Regime Has Become So Unfavorable to Labor," Politics & Society 21, no. 2 (June 1993): 133-68, and Jonathon Moses, "Abdication from National Policy Autonomy: What's Left to Leave," Politics & Society 22, no. 2 (June 1994): 125-48.
17. 13. Ton Notermans, "The Abdication from National Policy Autonomy: Why the Macroeconomic Policy Regime Has Become So Unfavorable to Labor," Politics & Society 21, no. 2 (June 1993): 133-68, and Jonathon Moses, "Abdication from National Policy Autonomy: What's Left to Leave," Politics & Society 22, no. 2 (June 1994): 125-48.
18. 14. See Gordon Brown, speech, Labour Finance and Industry Group, 17 May 1995, and Gordon Brown, "The Treasury's Mission Under Labour," Manchester Business School, 29 April 1996. See also Labour Party, A New Economic Future for Britain (London: Labour Party, 1995), 16-19.
19. 14. See Gordon Brown, speech, Labour Finance and Industry Group, 17 May 1995, and Gordon Brown, "The Treasury's Mission Under Labour," Manchester Business School, 29 April 1996. See also Labour Party, A New Economic Future for Britain (London: Labour Party, 1995), 16-19.
20. 14. See Gordon Brown, speech, Labour Finance and Industry Group, 17 May 1995, and Gordon Brown, "The Treasury's Mission Under Labour," Manchester Business School, 29 April 1996. See also Labour Party, A New Economic Future for Britain (London: Labour Party, 1995), 16-19.
21. 15. Tony Blair, speech, British Chambers of Commerce Annual Conference, 3 July 1996, 11.
22. 16. On Labour's commitment to a mix of new classical macroeconomics and new growth theory, see Bill Martin, "Labour's Economics Can Mr Blair do it?" (London: UBS Global Research, May 1996), and Dan Corry and Gerald Holtham, Growth with Stability Progressive Macroeconomic Policy (London: Institute for Public Policy Research, 1995). On the evolution of Labour's economic strategy, see Mark Wickham-Jones, Economic Strategy and the Labour Party (London: Macmillan, 1996), 211-23.
23. 16. On Labour's commitment to a mix of new classical macroeconomics and new growth theory, see Bill Martin, "Labour's Economics Can Mr Blair do it?" (London: UBS Global Research, May 1996), and Dan Corry and Gerald Holtham, Growth with Stability Progressive Macroeconomic Policy (London: Institute for Public Policy Research, 1995). On the evolution of Labour's economic strategy, see Mark Wickham-Jones, Economic Strategy and the Labour Party (London: Macmillan, 1996), 211-23.
24. 16. On Labour's commitment to a mix of new classical macroeconomics and new growth theory, see Bill Martin, "Labour's Economics Can Mr Blair do it?" (London: UBS Global Research, May 1996), and Dan Corry and Gerald Holtham, Growth with Stability Progressive Macroeconomic Policy (London: Institute for Public Policy Research, 1995). On the evolution of Labour's economic strategy, see Mark Wickham-Jones, Economic Strategy and the Labour Party (London: Macmillan, 1996), 211-23.
25. 17. See Colin Hay, "Labour's Thatcherite Revisionism: Playing the 'Politics of Catch-Up,'" Political Studies 42, no. 4 (December 1994): 700-7.
26. 18. Three economic policy documents have been produced since July 1994. Among other elements, they note the importance to economic growth of such items as tax incentives for long-term investment, education and training, the development of a culture of savings, and increased capital formation. Blair's priority remains economic stability and low inflation, but the documents also propose restrictions on takeovers and help for small firms. They include proposals for regional development agencies - an aspect upon which Hay lays considerable emphasis. Indeed, Vision for Growth endorses explicitly the importance of regional policy as laid out in the more radical document Winning for Britain. It remains to be seen, of course, what impact such measures will have in practice or even if the party will implement all of them. See Labour Party, New Economic Future for Britain; Labour Party, Vision for Growth (London: Labour Party, 1996); and Labour Party, New Opportunities for Business (London: Labour Party, 1996).
27. 18. Three economic policy documents have been produced since July 1994. Among other elements, they note the importance to economic growth of such items as tax incentives for long-term investment, education and training, the development of a culture of savings, and increased capital formation. Blair's priority remains economic stability and low inflation, but the documents also propose restrictions on takeovers and help for small firms. They include proposals for regional development agencies - an aspect upon which Hay lays considerable emphasis. Indeed, Vision for Growth endorses explicitly the importance of regional policy as laid out in the more radical document Winning for Britain. It remains to be seen, of course, what impact such measures will have in practice or even if the party will implement all of them. See Labour Party, New Economic Future for Britain; Labour Party, Vision for Growth (London: Labour Party, 1996); and Labour Party, New Opportunities for Business (London: Labour Party, 1996).
28. 18. Three economic policy documents have been produced since July 1994. Among other elements, they note the importance to economic growth of such items as tax incentives for long-term investment, education and training, the development of a culture of savings, and increased capital formation. Blair's priority remains economic stability and low inflation, but the documents also propose restrictions on takeovers and help for small firms. They include proposals for regional development agencies - an aspect upon which Hay lays considerable emphasis. Indeed, Vision for Growth endorses explicitly the importance of regional policy as laid out in the more radical document Winning for Britain. It remains to be seen, of course, what impact such measures will have in practice or even if the party will implement all of them. See Labour Party, New Economic Future for Britain; Labour Party, Vision for Growth (London: Labour Party, 1996); and Labour Party, New Opportunities for Business (London: Labour Party, 1996).
29. 19. Labour Party, Winning for Britain (London: Labour Party, 1994).
30. 20. Financial Times, 20 October 1995. Margaret Beckett makes a minor contribution (one page of text) to New Opportunities for Business. She has had more input into Vision for Growth, a tentative and ambiguous document, though this publication also draws heavily on the speeches of Tony Blair.
31. 21. See, among others, Geoffrey Garrett, "Capital Mobility, Trade, and the Domestic Politics of Economic Policy," in Internationalisation and Domestic Politics, ed. Robert Keohane and Helen Milner (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996), 79-107; Duane Swank, "Funding the Welfare State." Paper presented to the American Political Science Association, San Francisco, August 1996, and Michael Wallerstein and Adam Przeworski, "Capital Taxation with Open Borders," Review of International Political Economy 2 (Summer 1995): 425-45.
32. 21. See, among others, Geoffrey Garrett, "Capital Mobility, Trade, and the Domestic Politics of Economic Policy," in Internationalisation and Domestic Politics, ed. Robert Keohane and Helen Milner (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996), 79-107; Duane Swank, "Funding the Welfare State." Paper presented to the American Political Science Association, San Francisco, August 1996, and Michael Wallerstein and Adam Przeworski, "Capital Taxation with Open Borders," Review of International Political Economy 2 (Summer 1995): 425-45.
33. 21. See, among others, Geoffrey Garrett, "Capital Mobility, Trade, and the Domestic Politics of Economic Policy," in Internationalisation and Domestic Politics, ed. Robert Keohane and Helen Milner (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996), 79-107; Duane Swank, "Funding the Welfare State." Paper presented to the American Political Science Association, San Francisco, August 1996, and Michael Wallerstein and Adam Przeworski, "Capital Taxation with Open Borders," Review of International Political Economy 2 (Summer 1995): 425-45.