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Abstract
The interest in the theory of the state seems to be growing due to the turmoil in different parts of the world, which the state is otherwise assumed able to stabilise. This article distils the theory of the state that is inherent in the classics of ordoliberalism from the 1930s and 1940s, which is a specific German variant of liberalism. Based on structure-and-agency conceptualizations of the state, I offer an ordoliberal state theory that is constituted by some specific characteristics regarding the concepts of authority, power, and association, as well as a number of specific characteristics concerning individuals’ interests and values, the potential for influencing state employees, and regarding the factions of the state. The ordoliberal theory of the state is an original version of what the state is and should be in terms of (for example) economic growth and social order.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Peter Nedergaard is Professor of Political Science at the University of Copenhagen. His main interests are European politics, European integration and political economy. He has published a large number of articles and books on these areas.
Notes
1 A ‘real’ free competition is what classic ordoliberalism pronounced ‘complete competition’, which is the cornerstone of ordoliberal thought. Here, “economic relations are entirely depoliticised”, and all actors are “equally exposed to market competition”.
2 Werner Bonefeld distinguishes between ‘two areas of enquiry’ as far as ordoliberalism is concerned: German ordoliberalism and the Freiburg School. I consider this an argument for replacing the ‘school’ concept with the concept of ‘epistemic tradition.’ The Strong State and the Free Economy (2017), pp. 63f.
3 It could be argued that ‘politics by rules’ is a better translation even though it is not a literal translation.
4 Joerges (Citation2017), Bonefeld (Citation2017, Citation22f).
5 Cf. Dullien and Guérot (Citation2012).
6 Alexander Rüstow's piece from 1942 was written as an appendix to Wilhelm Röpke's International Economic Disintegration. It is a chapter in Biebricher and Vogelmann (Citation2017a).