Can Anybody Explain Corporatism?

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Clarissa

February 3, 2014

I’ve been trying to understand the concept of corporatism, but I’m kind of stuck. I’m good on the differences between fascist and liberal corporatism but what I don’t get is why corporatism is “a system of permanent, structured inequality.” This always is mentioned as a given but I’m not getting what is especially unequal about corporatism that is not present in the alternatives. I also am not sure what the alternatives are.

Does anybody know anything about this? Please don’t give me links, though. All I want is a simple short explanation for dummies. What do you associate with the word “corporatism”?

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6 responses to “Can Anybody Explain Corporatism?”

Matt

February 3, 2014

Corporatism appears to mean (at least in how I hear it and see it viewed) is where corporations and business are all-powerful institutions that have undue (or outright illegal and corrupt) influence over politics, society and policies are crafted to enrich corporations and their owners vs. the “average man”.

I suppose the alternative would be either a more socialist / government led state or the ideal (in my estimation), legitimate capitalism where corporations do NOT get huge handouts from the government.

Lastly corporatism = crony capitalism.

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1. Clarissa
  
  February 3, 2014
  
  Thank you, Matt, this makes sense.
  
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ThreeAMeternal

February 4, 2014

“a system of permanent, structured inequality.” This (below) is how it was explained to in me in politics class at school

http://www.lyricstime.com/hymn-all-things-bright-and-beautiful-lyrics.html

“This always is mentioned as a given but I’m not getting what is especially unequal about corporatism that is not present in the alternatives. ”

I think your right, but it also offers no prospect of change, no chance of liberation in the future. Even ‘free market’ capitalism offers that.

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Rose

February 4, 2014

The term is sometimes used to describe ancien regime culture in France (before the revolution): one’s personal status before the law depended on status in a “corporation” (a lord’s vassals, a religious community, a foreign “nation,” etc.). The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen overturned corporatism.

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1. Clarissa
  
  February 4, 2014
  
  This makes a lot of sense in the context where I see this term used. Thank you!
  
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  1. Rose
    
    February 5, 2014
    
    If it’s about Franco’s Spain, I think there’s a Catholic tinge to it too, part of an explicitly Catholic philosophical tradition of the 20th century.
    
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