Hirschman and the rethoric of reaction

Maria Valéria Junho Pena ()

Brazilian Journal of Political Economy, 1993, vol. 13, issue 1, 162-167

Abstract: The communication deals with the 1991’s book of Albert O. Hirschman, Rhetoricof reaction: perversity. futility. Jeopardy, showing its importance in relation with thecontemporary debate on the possibilities of the welfare state. The thesis of Hirschman is thatthe contemporary conservative criticism on the welfare state is a revival of the thesis thathad been already argued before opposing the expansion of civil and political rights. The sameway as those rights, contemporary social rights would: (i) produce the contrary of whatis the desire of policymakers; (ii) produce no effect at all; (iii) cost too much, jeopardizingdemocracy or economic growth. Perversity, futility and jeopardy are the main attributes ofaction according to the conservative view; that’s why its proposal is so reactionary. That iswhy, as well, considering the danger of action, its success rests on its competence to persuadethat history not allowing anything to be done or to be created. Politics is just a case foradministrative skills. JEL Classification: Y30.

Keywords: Review; Hirschman (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 1993
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