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English Pluralism, Functionalism and Corporatism: The Legacy of Paul Hirst

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  • Mark Wenman

Abstract

Paul Hirst began his career as a Marxist, and in his later work he made important contributions to numerous debates, the most notorious of which was his pronounced scepticism towards the idea of globalisation. However, Hirst's principal legacy to political theory was the development of his normative theory of ‘associative democracy’. This article presents a critique of Hirst's theory emphasising his indebtedness to the tradition of English political pluralism. On a preliminary analysis, Hirst's project appears to have been predicated on a normative defence of voluntarism, individualism and pluralism. However, I make the case that on closer examination this is undermined and contradicted in his work – and in the work of the earlier English pluralists – by an implicit assumption of social unity. This assumption is manifest in the functionalism and corporatism that Hirst presented as necessary components of pluralism, which in turn reflect his unwarranted presumption that industrial productivity, efficient economic governance and welfare provision represent impartial and incontestable axioms of social organisation.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark Wenman, 2007. "English Pluralism, Functionalism and Corporatism: The Legacy of Paul Hirst," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 55(4), pages 801-820, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:polstu:v:55:y:2007:i:4:p:801-820
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9248.2007.00679.x
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    3. Gierke, Otto Friedrich, 1900. "Political Theories of the Middle Age," History of Economic Thought Books, McMaster University Archive for the History of Economic Thought, number gierke1900.
    4. Barry Hindess & Paul Hirst, 1977. "Mode of Production and Social Formation," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-349-15749-5.
    5. Laski, Harold J., 1919. "Authority in the Modern State," History of Economic Thought Books, McMaster University Archive for the History of Economic Thought, number laski1919.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jason Edwards & Kelvin Knight, 2008. "Paul Hirst's Pluralism: A Response to Mark Wenman," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 56(3), pages 737-741, October.
    2. Mark Wenman, 2008. "On the Young Hirst: A Rejoinder to Jason Edwards and Kelvin Knight," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 56(4), pages 964-969, December.

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