FROM THE AUTHORITARIAN STATE TO WELFARE STATE: CONSIDERATIONS ON CONTEMPORARY WELFARE STATE

Abstract

the paper argues that it is possible to perceive a positive reconsideration about the importance of State role on social life and economic organization, in that democratic politics and redistributive, compensatory and interventive functions of the State are affirmed as directive forces of social evolution and socio-economic organization, by many groups of society, political parties and even intellectuals. Therefore, this positive role of the State, after a long time of supremacy of neoliberal positions and its disruption of State, is oriented to pacification of social poverty produced by capitalist economy and to reinforce democratic political participation of citizens (avoiding authoritarianism and autonomy of State and political parties) – something that current economic worldwide crisis makes more preeminent. So, the State is the core of democratic constitution of society itself, again, and it must be affirmed in this position and in the vindications of social movements and citizen initiatives about solid processes of political democracy, social justice and cultural recognition.