The strategic-relational approach, realism and the state: from regulation theory to neoliberalism via Marx and Poulantzas, an interview with Bob Jessop

ABSTRACT

In this wide-ranging interview, Bob Jessop discusses the development of, and many of the main themes in, his work over the last fifty years. He explains how he became interested in realism and Marxism; and he describes the various influences on his highly influential theory of the state. The discussion explores his strategic-relational approach, his thoughts on regulation theory, variegated capitalism, post-disciplinarity, cultural political economy and his ‘spatial-turn’, as well as neoliberalism, contemporary events and looming problems of climate change and crisis.

KEYWORDS:

• Bob Jessop
• Critical Realism
• Regulation School
• strategic-relational approach
• neoliberalism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 For information on and access to Jessop’s work and related activity visit: http://www.lancs.ac.uk/fass/sociology/bob-jessop, http://www.bobjessop.org, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Jessop, and: https://lancaster.academia.edu/BobJessop/CurriculumVitae

2 See also in this series Archer and Morgan (2020); Rescher and Morgan (2020); Porpora and Morgan (2020); Norrie and Morgan (2021); Lawson and Morgan (2021a, 2021b).

3 Note from Jamie: contradictio in adjecto means contradiction between a noun and modifying adjective or contradiction ‘in terms’ or between parts of an argument.

4 Note from Jamie: the event is archived at https://www.lancaster.ac.uk/arts-and-social-sciences/events/events-archive-to-aug-2016/1381

5 Note from Jamie: IACR was formed in 1997 and the list of conferences is archived at https://centreforcriticalrealism.com/iacr/

6 Note from Jamie: regulation theorists typically look to institutional forms of relation between the state and economy, the location of the state within international institutional forms, the form of competition, wage-labour and credit provision. Reference to capitalist ‘accumulation’ just means a generalized process or systemic feature in which the proceeds of economic activity are reused (reinvested &c) tending to reproduce and increase monetary valuations and the amount of capital over time.

7 For further illustration of the range and substance of Jessop's work over the years see Jessop and Sum (2019); Jessop and Overbeek (2018); Jessop, Brenner and Jones (2008); Jessop (2020b), (2017b), (2009b), (2001a), (1999b), (1991a), (1991b), (1990a), (1980b), (1980c), (1980d), (1979a), (1979b), (1978b).

8 Note from Bob: étatiste refers to a strong state interventionist approach like that of the French state planning regime.

9 Note from Jamie: for some examples of discussion of the issues see also Morgan (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020), Gills, Morgan, and Patomäki (2019) and Morgan and Nasir (2021).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bob Jessop

Bob Jessop is Emeritus Professor, Lancaster University, having retired from his position as a Distinguished Professor of Sociology. He is the author of numerous books and articles. Additional detail is given in the interview.

Jamie Morgan

Jamie Morgan is Professor of Economic Sociology at Leeds Beckett University. He co-edits the Real-World Economics Review with Edward Fullbrook. He has published widely in the fields of economics, political economy, philosophy, sociology and international politics.