Neoliberal developmentalism,authoritarian populism,and extractivism in the countryside: the Soma mining disaster in Turkey

ABSTRACT

While state-society relations in Turkey have historically been top-down and coups d’état periodically interrupted democratic politics, the recent authoritarian turn under Erdo?an is remarkable. Two dynamics are especially salient. First, Erdo?an and his AKP have been particularly effective in deepening the neoliberalisation of economy and society. Their policies have created a new form of neoliberal developmentalism, where solutions to all social ills have come to be seen as possible through rapid economic growth. Second, they have intensified the transformation of the countryside, where new forms of dispossession and deagrarianisation open the way to an unprecedented extractivist drive. Together, neoliberal developmentalism and extractivism have resulted in growing social dissent. The eruption of anger after the Soma coal mining disaster that killed 301 miners is one such case. The paper shows how Erdo?an and the AKP use populist tactics (ranging from an uptick in nationalist discourse to the provision of ‘coal aid’ in winter) to assuage their critics. Where these prove inadequate, an increasingly violent crackdown on social dissent is being deployed in the name of peace and order as the country remains in a state of emergency since the attempted coup of July 2016.     

论马克思劳动伦理思想中的道德批判与政治经济学批判

马克思以“批判”代替“道德说教”的方式来建构其理论版图,道德批判和政治经济学批判构成了其劳动伦理思想的双重向度。马克思一方面用宗教批判及法哲学批判的方式完成了对道德层面与实践层面的再次反转,另一方面从宗教和道德批判入手,进而延伸到政治经济学,实现了对资本主义的科学批判。道德批判作为政治经济学批判的起始点和内在意蕴,自始至终都体现了历史唯物主义的基本立场,政治经济学批判下的伦理指向亦是如此。二者所指向的目标都是实现人的自由与解放,具有高度的内在一致性。马克思因批判维度的转换而将其劳动伦理思想推向了更深刻、更全面、更丰富的论证阶段。     

Understanding the silent majority in authoritarian populism: what can we learn from popular support for Putin in rural Russia?

ABSTRACT

This study distinguishes and challenges three main assumptions/shortcomings regarding the silent majority – the majority of the ‘ordinary’, ‘simple’, ‘little’ people, who are the main supporters of authoritarian populism. The silent majority is commonly portrayed as (1) consisting of ‘irrational’, ‘politically short-sighted’ people, who vote against their self-interests; (2) it is analysed as a homogeneous group, without attempting to distinguish different motives and interests among its members; (3) existing studies often overlook the political economy and structures of domination that gave rise to authoritarian populism. I address these shortcomings while analysing the political behaviour of rural Russians, who are the major supporters of Vladimir Putin. I reveal that the agrarian property regime and power relations in the countryside largely define the political posture of different rural groups. Less secure socio-economic strata respond more strongly to economic incentives, while better-off villagers tend to support the regime's ideological appeals. Furthermore, Putin's traditionalist authoritarian leadership style appeals to the archetypal base of the rural society – namely, its peasant roots – and, therefore, finds stronger support among the farming population. Finally, this study reveals that collective interests prevail over individual interests in the voting behaviour of rural dwellers, who support the existing regime despite the economic hardship it imposes upon them.     

对市场经济是法治经济的思考

市场经济是实行法治的经济。社会主义市场经济必须依靠法治来克服“丛林法则”的负面效应 ,来解决市场、政府和契约“三大失灵”问题。必须加快我国的立法节奏 ,完善行政执法、司法制度 ,建立健全强有力的监督机制 ,切实推进我国社会主义市场经济的法治化进程。     

市场经济概念刍议--兼谈社会主义市场经济理论的构建基础

目前的理论教材将市场经济定义为仅是资源配置方式或经济体制,此定义在理论和教学中尚有一些问题存在.在西方经济学中市场经济既是资源配置方式,也是经济制度和价值观.市场经济概念是社会主义市场经济理论的构建基础,因此有必要深入探讨.     

品德是市场营销成败的关键

市场营销是企业生存发展的关键。在激烈的市场竞争中,企业无不投入大量的人力、物力展开市场营销,期望以此获得市场份额与利润。在日益白热化的市场营销竞争中,广告、促销、渠道等营销手段只是表象,真正能够赢得消费者青睐的主要因素,乃是企业在市场营销中所体现出的品德。以诚信、友爱、责任构建的高尚品德,是企业在市场营销竞争中取胜的重要法宝。     

诚信:现代化建设的伦理基础

现代化是一种包括经济、政治、文化在内的整体性社会变迁,其基本的道德要求是与现代市场经济的发展相适应的。诚信作为现代社会的基础性道德规范和市场经济的黄金规则,是现代化的伦理基础;诚信作为市场主体的无形资本,是非常宝贵的社会资源,而且对市场经济起引导和促进作用。