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”?
Clarissa's Blog 
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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Thank you, Matt, this makes sense.
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“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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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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This makes a lot of sense in the context where I see this term used. Thank you!
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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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