Strong state

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A strong state is a state model that can be designed very differently depending on the political goal and content. A general delimitation of the term from the model of the “ total state ” is not possible. Under a critical sign, the term is sometimes used synonymously with the authoritarian state . In terms of the history of ideas , the idea can be traced back to the theoretical foundation of the representation of the bourgeois interests by Jean Bodin and the political philosophy of Thomas Hobbes and his pessimistic anthropology . The narrower meaning of the term can be derived from the respective descriptive, analytical and critical characterizations of individual authors. In terms of heads of state , governments or populations , a state was characterized as “strong” if it is sovereign , authoritarian , centralized or organized uniformly . In the economy , the idea is closely linked to the regulatory concept of ordoliberalism . In the theory of international relations , the model was taken up in neorealism and set in contrast to that of the “ weak state ”.

history

In the second half of the 19th century, the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche pleaded for a hierarchically organized "strong state" in the form of the aristocracy , which he wanted to oppose to decadence and the nihilism he perceived in modern society. Specifically, his interest was aimed at uniform physiognomic structures of the state organization in order to realize the possibility of steering the " individual " as well as groups and associations . Nietzsche deliberately designed his concept of the state as a counter-model to the modern idea of equality ; his conception was connected with the concept of breeding a "stronger race " to produce his ideal image of the superman . These breeding thoughts, he has turned his idea of an education organization that according to the principle of the elite on the selection Become looks coming man. Nietzsche's organization of education was both democratic and aristocratic, as Karl Jaspers later remarked: “ It is democratic insofar as it means the whole people , wants to select from all classes ; she is aristocratic insofar as she cares about the best. “Unlike Hobbes' philosophy of the“ strong state ”, Nietzsche did not base his model on the pessimistic anthropological approach, according to which an originally egotistical, tyrannical drive to power must be assumed. He combined his concept of power with the idea of ​​an “enlightened enlightenment ”, which, however, is a privilege of a few “aristocratic” ruling people.

During the Weimar Republic , between 1927 and 1932 , Walter Eucken and Alexander Rustow were committed to developing a theoretical counterweight to the historical school that was dominant at the time in economics , and to increasing the importance of economics as a whole. In the midst of the global economic crisis , Rustow gave a lecture at the annual conference of the Verein für Socialpolitik in Dresden in September 1932 with the title “Free Economy, Strong State” , which, along with Eucken's essay “State structural changes and the crisis of capitalism”, was the first manifestation of German neoliberalism applies. Riistow characterized this liberalism as follows in his speech: "The new liberalism, at any rate, which is defensible today, demands a strong state, a state above the economy, above the interested parties, where it belongs." And he added that this " strong state ”from “ the entanglement with economic interests, if it has got into them, can be released ”. Because "precisely this reflection and withdrawal of the state on itself, this self-limitation as the basis of self-combat is a prerequisite and expression of its independence and strength" . This idea of ​​a “strong state” was coupled with the idea of state intervention “in the direction of market laws ”. Just like Riistow, Eucken and Wilhelm Röpke were also concerned with “market-conform interventions” and with the defense against the search for privileges and the power of economic interest groups . The sociologist Wolfgang Streeck contrasts this strong state with a democratic state. For Streeck, a democratic state is incompatible with neoliberalism.

On November 23, 1932, the lawyer Carl Schmitt , who was in close contact with Riistow at the time, gave a lecture to business representatives (in the so-called Langnam Association ) with the title “Strong State and Healthy Economy”. Here Schmitt demanded, based on Riistow, that the strong state should be based on a “free economy” and withdraw from “non-state spheres” in the sense of an active depoliticization: “ If we are clear about the main lines, the question arises: How can the goal of distinguishing between state and economy be achieved today? The same thing happens again and again: only a strong state can depoliticize, only a strong state can openly and effectively order that certain matters, such as traffic or broadcasting, are its shelf and are administered by it as such, that other matters of [.. .] belong to economic self-government, and everything else is left to the free economy. "

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Steffen Dagger, Michael Kambeck (ed.): Political advice and lobbying in Brussels. Wiesbaden 2007, p. 183, ISBN 3-531-15388-9 ; Gerold Ambrosius: State and economic order. An introduction to theory and history. Stuttgart 2001, p. 145, ISBN 3-515-06778-7 .
  2. ^ Daniela Kahn: The control of the economy by law in National Socialist Germany. The example of the Reichsgruppe Industrie. Frankfurt a. M. 2006, pp. 98 f., ISBN 3-465-04012-0 .
  3. ^ Gerhard Wolf : From the chronicle to the world book. Sense and claim of southwest German house chronicles at the end of the Middle Ages. Berlin / New York 2002, p. 114, ISBN 3-11-016805-7 ; Jürgen Kocka: Handbook of German History. Vol. 13: 19th century (1806-1918). The Long 19th Century: Labor, Nation, and Civil Society. 10., completely reworked. Ed., Stuttgart 2001, p. 144, ISBN 3-608-60013-2 .
  4. ^ Richard Saage: Theories of Democracy. Historical process, theoretical development, socio-technical conditions. An introduction. Wiesbaden 2005, p. 74, ISBN 3-531-14722-6 .
  5. ↑ Richard Münch: Sociological theory. Vol. 2: Action theory. Frankfurt a. M. / New York 2004, p. 140, ISBN 3-593-37590-7 ; Heinz-Hermann Krüger, Cathleen Grunert (Hrsg.): Handbook Childhood and Youth Research. Opladen 2002, p. 87, ISBN 3-8100-3292-1 ; Jan Rohls: History of Ethics. 2., reworked. and additional edition, Tübingen 1999, p. 614, ISBN 3-16-146706-X .
  6. ↑ Georg Kohler , Urs Marti: Contours of the new world (dis) order. Contributions to a theory of normative principles of international politics. Berlin / New York 2003, p. 181, ISBN 3-11-017756-0 ; Gerhard Müller (Hrsg.): Theological real encyclopedia. De Gruyter study book. Study edition part II. Berlin / New York 2000, p. 16, ISBN 3-11-019098-2 . (Keyword "Politics and Christianity".)
  7. ↑ Margareta Mommsen: Who rules in Russia? The Kremlin and the shadows of power. Munich 2004, p. 154, ISBN 3-406-51118-X ; Markus Kiel: “The future begins now!”. Teenagers in their 90s. Causes of Political Extremist Behavior. Marburg 2000, p. 20, ISBN 3-8288-8090-8 .
  8. ↑ Thomas Heberer, Claudia Derichs (ed.): Introduction to the political systems of East Asia. PR China, Hong Kong, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan. 2nd, updated and exp. Ed., Wiesbaden 2008, p. 8, ISBN 3-531-15937-2 ; Stefan von Hoyningen-Huene : Religiousness among right-wing extremist youth. Münster / Hamburg / London 2003, p. 28, ISBN 3-8258-6327-1 .
  9. ↑ Horst Dreier, Walter Pauly: The German constitutional doctrine in the time of National Socialism. Berlin / New York 2001, p. 80, ISBN 3-11-017192-9 .
  10. ↑ Ralf Ptak : From ordoliberalism to the social market economy. Stations of neoliberalism in Germany. Opladen 2004, p. 291, ISBN 3-8100-4111-4 ; Uwe Andersen, Wichard Woyke (Hrsg.): Concise dictionary of the political system of the Federal Republic of Germany. Opladen 2003, p. 560, ISBN 3-8100-3865-2 ; Ralph Skuban: Long-term care insurance in Europe. Wiesbaden 2003, p. 85, ISBN 3-531-14049-3 .
  11. ^ Günther Auth: Theories of international relations compact. Munich / Oldenbourg 2008, p. 58, ISBN 978-3-486-58821-7 .
  12. ↑ Roger Häußling: Nietzsche and the sociology. On the construct of the superman, on its anti-sociological implications and on the sociological reaction to Nietzsche's thinking. Würzburg 2000, pp. 219 f., ISBN 3-8260-1928-8 . (Section "Strong state versus nihilistic society".)
  13. ↑ Roger Häußling: Nietzsche and the sociology. On the construct of the superman, on its anti-sociological implications and on the sociological reaction to Nietzsche's thinking. Würzburg 2000, p. 226 f.
  14. ↑ Karl Jaspers : Nietzsche. Introduction to understanding his philosophizing. 4th, unchanged edition, Berlin / New York 1981, p. 282, ISBN 3-11-008658-1 .
  15. ^ Bernhard F. Taureck: Nietzsche and Fascism. A political issue. Leipzig 2000, p. 227 ff., ISBN 3-379-01687-X .
  16. ^ Lüder Gerken: Walter Eucken and his work. Review of the pioneer of the social market economy. Tübingen 2000, pp. 75 f., ISBN 3-16-147503-8 .
  17. ↑ Quoted in: Werner Abelshauser : Deutsche Wirtschaftsgeschichte since 1945. Munich 2004, p. 95, ISBN 3-406-51094-9 .
  18. ↑ Quoted in: Otto Schlecht : Fundamentals and perspectives of the social market economy. Tübingen 1990, p. 8, ISBN 3-16-145684-X .
  19. ^ Dieter Haselbach: Authoritarian Liberalism and Social Market Economy. Society and politics in ordoliberalism. Baden-Baden 1991, p. 44, ISBN 3-7890-2504-6 .
  20. ^ To Riistow: Jan Hegner: Ordnungspolitische Conception and Influence on the economic policy model of the post-war period in the Federal Republic of Germany. Stuttgart 2000, p. 20, ISBN 3-8282-0113-X ; To Eucken: Hans Otto Lenel, Helmut Gröner u. a. (Ed.): Ordo. Yearbook for the Order of Economy and Society. Vol. 54. Lucius & Lucius, Stuttgart 2003, pp. 15 f., ISBN 3-828-20246-2 ; to Röpke: Karl-Peter Sommermann : State goals and state goal determinations. Tübingen 1997, pp. 160 f., ISBN 3-16-146816-3 .
  21. ↑ Wolfgang Streeck: On the ruins of the old world. From democracy to market society. In: Blätter for German and international politics , 12/2012, pp. 61–72.
  22. ^ Reprint of the article in: Carl Schmitt : Staat, Großraum, Nomos. Works from the years 1916-1969. Edited by Günter Maschke . Berlin 1995, p. 71, ISBN 3-428-07471-8 .
  23. ^ Carl Schmitt: State, Grossraum, Nomos. Works from the years 1916-1969. Edited by Günter Maschke. Berlin 1995, p. 81.