The Servile State
Encyclopedia
The Servile State is a book written by Hilaire Belloc
in 1912 about economics
. Although it mentions Distributism
, for which he and his friend G. K. Chesterton
are famous, it avoids explicit advocation for that economic system.
This book lays out, in very broad outline, Belloc's version of European economic history: starting with ancient states, where slavery
was critical to the economy, through the medieval economies based on serf
and peasant
labor, to capitalism
. Belloc argues that the development of capitalism was not a natural consequence of the Industrial Revolution
, but a consequence of the earlier dissolution of the monasteries
in England, which then shaped the course of English industrialization. English capitalism then spread across the world.
Belloc then makes his case for the natural instability of pure capitalism and discusses how (as he believes) attempts to reform capitalism will lead almost inexorably to an economy where state regulation has removed the freedom of capitalism and thereby replaced capitalism with the Servile State, which shares with ancient slavery the fact that positive law
(as opposed to custom or economic necessity by themselves) dictates that certain people will work for others, who likewise must take care of them.
George Orwell
described the work as written in a "tiresome style" and argued that the remedy it suggested was "impossible". However he considered it foretold the sort of things that were happening in the 1930s with "remarkable insight".
Hilaire Belloc
Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc was an Anglo-French writer and historian who became a naturalised British subject in 1902. He was one of the most prolific writers in England during the early twentieth century. He was known as a writer, orator, poet, satirist, man of letters and political activist...
in 1912 about economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
. Although it mentions Distributism
Distributism
Distributism is a third-way economic philosophy formulated by such Catholic thinkers as G. K...
, for which he and his friend G. K. Chesterton
G. K. Chesterton
Gilbert Keith Chesterton, KC*SG was an English writer. His prolific and diverse output included philosophy, ontology, poetry, plays, journalism, public lectures and debates, literary and art criticism, biography, Christian apologetics, and fiction, including fantasy and detective fiction....
are famous, it avoids explicit advocation for that economic system.
This book lays out, in very broad outline, Belloc's version of European economic history: starting with ancient states, where slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
was critical to the economy, through the medieval economies based on serf
SERF
A spin exchange relaxation-free magnetometer is a type of magnetometer developed at Princeton University in the early 2000s. SERF magnetometers measure magnetic fields by using lasers to detect the interaction between alkali metal atoms in a vapor and the magnetic field.The name for the technique...
and peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
labor, to capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
. Belloc argues that the development of capitalism was not a natural consequence of the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
, but a consequence of the earlier dissolution of the monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
in England, which then shaped the course of English industrialization. English capitalism then spread across the world.
Belloc then makes his case for the natural instability of pure capitalism and discusses how (as he believes) attempts to reform capitalism will lead almost inexorably to an economy where state regulation has removed the freedom of capitalism and thereby replaced capitalism with the Servile State, which shares with ancient slavery the fact that positive law
Positive law
Positive law is the term generally used to describe man-made laws which bestow specific privileges upon, or remove them from, an individual or group...
(as opposed to custom or economic necessity by themselves) dictates that certain people will work for others, who likewise must take care of them.
George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
described the work as written in a "tiresome style" and argued that the remedy it suggested was "impossible". However he considered it foretold the sort of things that were happening in the 1930s with "remarkable insight".