Liberal democracies are under threat from a resurgence of state capitalism, which is ultimately “more protectionist, more dangerous to global security and prosperity, and more threatening to political freedom” than free market economics, according to a new analysis.
Over the past two decades, many developing countries have turned away from free market capitalism and toward modern state capitalism, which is a combination of traditional state economic planning and elements of free market competition, argues Joshua Kurlantzick, a Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow for Southeast Asia.
“The most serious threat from state capitalism is that the two big state capitalist authoritarian powers, China and Russia, will use their state companies as weapons in conflicts with other countries, as vehicles to control certain types of natural resources, as vehicles for obtaining and stealing sensitive technology from other nations, or as tools for undermining environmental and labor norms in countries where their state companies invest,” Kurlantzick writes in State Capitalism: How the Return of Statism is Transforming the World.
The author identifies other problems posed by state capitalism:
- “In young democracies, state capitalism could potentially put too much power in the hands of a few leaders and help corrode democratic culture and institutions.”
- Some democratic state capitalists, such as Brazil, India, and Indonesia, appear capable of balancing economic statism with political freedom. However, in less democratic countries like Thailand, Turkey, and Malaysia, state capitalism’s erosion of political freedom may undermine stability and impair strategic relations with the United States.
- “In some of the most inefficient state capitalists, like Russia, these countries’ economic weaknesses, exacerbated by state capitalism, ultimately will lead to economic collapses that could shock the entire global economy.”
- Despite China’s current economic downturn, the overall economic success of an authoritarian state capitalist like China could increase the appeal of the model as an alternative to free market capitalism in other nations, further undermining democracy and economic freedom.
Kurlantzick urges policymakers to concentrate on democracy promotion and civil society in strategically important nations with weak democracies that are beginning to embrace state capitalism.
