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Public Choice

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09.01.2019

Progressive Democracy: the ideology of the modern predatory state

verfasst von: Randall G. Holcombe

Erschienen in: Public Choice | Ausgabe 3-4/2020

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Abstract

The state must expend resources to credibly threaten the use of force, and the actual use of force is more costly than just exercising the threat. A population that views itself as prey to a predatory state will resist the state’s demands and will not produce much that the state can appropriate. The predatory state will be more successful if it can convince its citizens that the state’s activities are in the public interest, which will enhance voluntary compliance with the state’s mandates and lessen the need for the state to invest resources in overt coercion. The ideology of “Progressive Democracy” encourages citizens to cooperate with the state, and legitimizes the state’s predatory activities. The ideology of Progressivism justifies the imposition of costs on some for the benefit of others. The ideology of democracy implies that when a democratic government does this, it is acting in the public interest.

Vorheriger Artikel Regulating quack medicine

Nächster Artikel The development and evolution of predatory-state institutions and organizations: beliefs, violence, conquest, coercion, and rent seeking

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Titel: Progressive Democracy: the ideology of the modern predatory state
verfasst von: Randall G. Holcombe
Publikationsdatum: 09.01.2019
Verlag: Springer US
Erschienen in: Public Choice / Ausgabe 3-4/2020
Print ISSN: 0048-5829
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-7101
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11127-019-00637-z

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