Corporatism is the practice of organizing society into "corporations" subordinate to the state.
According to corporatist theory, workers and employers should be organized into industrial and professional corporations, representing different political and economic interests.
The corporatism ideology was put into effect in fascist Italy between World Wars I and II, reflecting the will of the country's dictator, Benito Mussolini.
Corporatism proposes a political-economic model in which the government plays this mediating role to ameliorate the economic injustice of unrestricted capitalism.
The analogy made with the word corporatism refers to the idea that a body only functions fully when all members act together.
Thus, in order for society to function fully, all "members" (in this case, classes) must function together, harmoniously.
How does corporatism arise?
Corporatism can manifest itself as an authoritarian, state-sponsored strategy under which elites seek to manage socioeconomic conflicts.
It can also emerge in a way
more liberal. Thus, national political stakeholders participate directly in government decision-making rather than indirectly seeking representation through elections.Corporatism and fascism
The corporatism of fascist economic theory required the organization of each of the main sectors of industry, agriculture, professions, and the arts.
These sectors organized themselves into state- or administration-controlled unions and employers' associations, or "corporations."
Each of these negotiated contracts and working conditions, and represent the general interests of their professions in a larger assembly of corporations, or "corporatist parliament."
Corporate institutions would replace all independent workers' organizations and employers, and the corporate parliament would replace traditional representatives and bodies. legislation.
In theory, the corporatist model represented a "third way" between capitalism and communism, allowing for the harmonious cooperation of workers and employers. for the good of the nation as a whole.
See also the meaning of fascism.
The reality of corporatism during fascism
In practice, fascist corporatism was used to destroy labor movements and suppress political dissent.
In 1936, for example, the economic program of the right-wing French Social Party, with fascist ideals, included shorter working hours and paid vacations by “loyal” workers.
However, these benefits should be provided by employers, not the government.
The Nazi program “Kraft durch Freude"(Force for Joy), created in 1933 in Germany, which provided subsidies for vacations and other leisure activities for workers, operated on similar principles.
Extensive corporatist legislation was passed in Italy starting in the late 1920s, creating several government-controlled unions and prohibiting strikes.
Corporatism in the Salazar regime
The Salazar regime in Portugal (which lasted from 1933 to 1974), using Italian legislation as a model, banned the Trade Union Federation and all left-wing unions.
Thus, it made corporate unions mandatory for workers and declared strikes illegal, which contributed to a decline in real wages.
Corporatism in Brazil (Era Vargas - 1930-1945)
It is important to remember that within the corporatist ideology, union activities, class associations and political activities depended totally on government authorization.
It was following this ideology that Getúlio Vargas unified and transformed Brazilian unions, implementing corporatism.
Thus, from 1934 onwards, there was only one union per professional category, and they were responsible for answering directly to the government and its interests.
Corporatism in Brazil ended in 1946, along with the end of the Vargas era. However, experts in politics and economics claim that the ideology of corporatism is still present in the country.
See too:
- Capitalism;
- Main characteristics of capitalism;
- Communism;
- Main characteristics of communism;
- lobbyist.