Introduction
This article deconstructs the myth of state neutrality in the era of global capitalism, revealing the mechanisms through which the interests of the economic elite shape policy under the guise of the free market. Drawing on Galbraith’s diagnosis, the author analyzes how the state, rather than being an impartial arbiter, becomes a predator, systematically appropriating common goods. Readers will learn how free-market rhetoric masks the instrumental use of the state apparatus by private complexes and what alternatives European models offer in the face of upcoming crises.
Galbraith: The Predator State as a System of Plunder
James K. Galbraith defines the predator state as a system captured by organized interests, where the public apparatus serves the private transfer of wealth. In this configuration, the myth of the free market masks the interests of hegemons, functioning as a legitimizing liturgy. This reveals the US aporia: the state cannot simultaneously be a neutral guardian and a player planning market outcomes for its own elites. Dollar dominance allows Washington to finance debt and export the costs of instability to the rest of the world. The Reagan Revolution solidified this order, introducing a new liturgy of power where official dogmas of freedom serve to hide selective state interventionism.
The American vs. Scandinavian Model: The Struggle for Prosperity
The fundamental difference between these systems lies in their operational logic. While the American model seeks to capture the state, the Scandinavian model implements "politics against markets," building social security. German ordoliberalism, in turn, acts as a barrier against predation, protecting the competitive framework from being drained. An example of predatory logic is pension privatization, treated as an attempt to plug a private turbine into the public stream of contributions. Galbraith emphasizes that state capture in the US is no longer a pathology but a systemic norm. In such an arrangement, information asymmetry and the concentration of power cement the dominance of predators, making promises of market self-regulation unreliable.
Planning: The Foundation of a Technological Economy
In a complex world, planning is inevitable—the question is whether it will be public or private. Current predation excludes the interests of future generations, as the market does not represent entities lacking purchasing power. However, modern industrial policy can become a tool of sovereignty if the state assumes the role of an innovative investor. Global business faces a choice: predatory exploitation of loopholes or partnership in transparent planning. In the face of order fragmentation and the climate crisis, only strong non-market institutions can guarantee a stable future and representation for those whom market logic systematically ignores.
Summary
In a world where planning is inevitable and the future becomes a battlefield for resources, the question of who shapes tomorrow and how takes on fundamental importance. Will we allow predatory logic to dominate, deepening inequalities, or will we dare to create inclusive planning that considers the needs of future generations and guarantees their rights? The answer to this question will define not only the shape of the state but the future of our civilization. Those entities that manage to embrace the role of participants in the public order, rather than just its predatory beneficiaries, will survive.
📄 Full analysis available in PDF