State Capitalism(s) Redux?: Theories, Tensions, Controversies

41 Pages Posted: 18 Mar 2019

See all articles by Ilias Alami

Ilias Alami

Maastricht University

Adam D. Dixon

Maastricht University

Date Written: February 26, 2019

Abstract

This article interrogates the notion of state capitalism, exploring the contributions and limits of the concept as a means of theorizing the more visible role of the state across the world capitalist economy. We critically synthesize the key arguments, outlining commonly cited properties and practices of state capitalism, in three bodies of literature: strategic management, comparative capitalism, and international political economy. We find that the term not only lacks a unified definition, but actually refers to an extremely wide array of policy instruments, strategic objectives, institutional forms, and networks, that involve the state to different degrees. For this proliferation of competing usages to be productive and not lead to analytical impasses, we argue that there is a need for a heightened level of reflexive scrutiny of state capitalism as a category of analysis. In that spirit, we identify three issues that the literature must further grapple with for the term to be analytically meaningful, that is, capable of rendering (state)capitalist diversity amenable to analysis and critique:

(1) the ‘missing link’ of a theory of the capitalist state,

(2) the time horizons of state capitalism, or the question of ‘periodization’,

(3) territorial considerations, or the question of ‘locating’ state capitalism.

Suggested Citation

Alami, Ilias and Dixon, Adam D., State Capitalism(s) Redux?: Theories, Tensions, Controversies (February 26, 2019). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3342159 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3342159

Ilias Alami

Maastricht University ( email )

P.O. Box 616
Maastricht, Limburg 6200MD
Netherlands

Adam D. Dixon (Contact Author)

Maastricht University ( email )

P.O. Box 616
Maastricht, Limburg 6200MD
Netherlands

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