James C. Scott on The Perils of State Power
The Good Fight
Emancipation at Gunpoint
The welfare state, even in its benevolent forms, often acts under coercion, influenced by historical pressures rather than inherent altruism. Significant advances in equal citizenship, like those from the French Revolution, emerged from the need to address societal upheaval. Similarly, the New Deal aimed to stabilize capitalism in the face of revolutionary threats. Although states do implement emancipatory measures, these actions typically arise from necessity rather than moral obligation, illustrating the tension between state power and social advancement.
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