The Politics of Dependence: Economic Parasites and Vulnerable Lives

by Patrick J. L. Cockburn

Overview

The central claim of this book is that the dichotomy between economic dependence and economic independence is completely inadequate for describing the political challenges faced by contemporary capitalist welfare states. The simplistic contrast between markets and states as sources of income renders invisible the relations of dependence established in our basic economic institutions such as the family, property, and money. This book is a work of political theory that attacks narrow conceptions of dependence and identifies distinct senses of dependence that might allow political communities to make clearer decisions about the justice of our economic institutions and practices. Inheritance, for example, is as much a form of dependence as support by a welfare state, but these are never compared in debates about economic justice. This book begins the work of comparing forms of economic dependence, and argues that economic dependence is always an issue of both vulnerability andparasitism. It builds bridges between political theory and social science, and is of relevance to those concerned with social and economic justice in and beyond contemporary capitalist welfare states.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783030132675
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	06/29/2019
Edition description:	Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 2018
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x (d)

About the Author

Patrick J. L. Cockburn is Assistant Professor in Philosophy at Aarhus University, Denmark.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction.- 2. Economic Dependence and the Welfare State.- 3. Unproductive People.- 4. The Empty Economy.- 5. Currencies and Scales of Dependence.- 6. How Property Structures Dependence.- 7. Unearned Income and Inheritance.- 8. Conclusion: Choosing Our Dependencies.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“All of us are dependent on others in various ways, but while some forms of dependence—like that of children on their parents—seem easily justifiable, others—like that of usurers on debtors—do not. Patrick Cockburn has provided a valuable service in examining and assessing the many forms of dependence that structure economic life and their justifications.” (Andrew Sayer, author of Why We Can’t Afford the Rich)