Market, State, and Community : Theoretical Foundations of Market Socialism

Can we conceive of a market economy that fulfills the ideals of socialism? Here, Miller provides a comprehensive examination, from the standpoint of political theory, of an economy in which market mechanisms retain a central role, but in which capitalist patterns of ownership have been superseded. He shows that liberal ideas of freedom, justice, and efficiency cannot be used to vindicate laissez-faire capitalism, and rebuts left-wing criticisms of a socialist market economy. Justifying his ideas as a workable option, he then presents a new model of the socialist state, whose central idea is that of democratic citizenship. Preface......Page 8 Contents......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 PART I: A CRITIQUE OF LIBERTARIANISM......Page 34 1. Freedom......Page 36 2. Procedural Justice......Page 60 3. Market Neutrality......Page 85 4. Altruism and Welfare......Page 111 PART II: A DEFENCE OF MARKETS......Page 138 5. Consumer Sovereignty......Page 140 6. Distributive Justice......Page 164 7. Exploitation......Page 188 8. Alienation and Communism......Page 213 PART III: THE POLITICS OF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM......Page 238 9. Community and Citizenship......Page 240 10. Politics as Dialogue......Page 265 11. Toleration......Page 289 12. The Socialist State......Page 307 Conclusion......Page 334 Bibliography......Page 351 D......Page 368 K......Page 369 P......Page 370 W......Page 371 Y......Page 372 An analysis of an economy in which market mechanisms retain a central role, but in which capitalist patterns of ownership have been superceded. The text provides a coherent statement of the theoretical basis of market socialism and justifies it as a viable political option, presenting an alternative to both New Right and Socialist views Can we conceive of a market economy that fulfils the ideals of socialism? In this book, David Miller provides a comprehensive examination, from the standpoint of political theory, of an economy in which market mechanisms retain a central role, but in which capitalist patterns of ownership have been superseded. David Miller makes a comprehensive analysis of an economy in which market mechanisms retain a central role, but in which capitalist patterns of ownership have been superceded. He provides a clear, coherent statement of the theoretical basis of market socialism, and justifies it as a viable political option