Heterodox Economics Meets Law and Political Economy: 

The Legal Foundations of Liberal Authoritarianism

 

 

 

Participatory Discussion - Thinking Together: Defining Liberal Authoritarianism

Lead by: Lauren Johnston, Mohammad Berrada, Reshard Kolabhai, Zac Hale, Tais Penteado, Fernando Loayza Jordán, Harrison Karlewicz, Quinlan Wilson, Andy Carr, and Isaac Tasch

 

 

 

This year, the organizing committee has put together a project to define Liberal Authoritarianism as a group. This will feature a structure of iterative discussions that are designed to capture the creativity of the audience as they apply that definition to contemporary and historical examples. The goal of this project will be to walk away with an understanding of how Law and Political Economy as a particular theory of Heterodox Institutional Economics, is uniquely well equipped to address the issue of Liberal Authoritarianism.

 

 

Project Description and Itinerary

At 11:00 – Our Organizers will Assign Each Audience Member to a Group

Each Group will have a discussion leader, who will help guide the project.

 

 

 

11:15 Discussion Project Commences

Each group will be asked to tackle these three questions, that are drawn from the readings below:

 

 

• (1) Authoritarian Liberalism describes the legal construction of capitalism which makes it difficult for the demos to reverse socially regressive policies. With influence from Heller, this is Jamee’s working definition. What do you think of this definition? What is your reaction?

   

   

• (2) How can heterodox economics better confront the challenges of liberal authoritarianism? How does LPE extend the work of heterodox economics? 

   

   

• (3) According to Carl Schmitt, the state of exception is a sovereign's ability to transcend the rule of law in the name of the public good. How has the state of exception been wielded to maintain our current liberal state? Do we see the state of exception being used in new or novel ways?  What is the directional effect of the state of exception on American as well as global politics?

 

 

 

 

Works To Consider

 

Eve Darian-Smith. (2022). Rising Authoritarianism and Worsening Climate Change Share a Fossil-Fueled Secret, The Conversation, April 27, 2022. https://theconversation.com/rising-authoritarianism-and-worsening-climate-change-share-a-fossil-fueled-secret-181012.