Paolo Savona Democracy, the State and the Market

Annotation

This volume discusses the history of the formation of the ideas of freedom, and different approaches to economic liberalism and their consequences on policy decisions and democracy. It then moves on to look at the relationship between democracy (meant as the collective legislator), the State (as the leading player in welfare and international relations), and the global market (as a hidden and dematerialized, neo-sovereign law-maker). It shows that it is a mistake to accept the hypothesis of the irreconcilability of these institutions by strengthening only one of them, the market, to the detriment of the two others. The book argues that the irreconcilability is the result of man's choices, and proposes an agreement of cultural and economic cooperation aimed at spreading instruction, well-being and peace for all.