Reading Social Policy from Polanyi’s Perspective: Problem of the Market, Wealth, and Labor

The Great Transformation, published in 1944 by Karl Polanyi, brought a new dimension to the relationship between market, state, and welfare. Polanyi considered the relation between markets and societies as a central feature of any social order; according to him, while the market destabilizes society...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Abdülkadir Şenkal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Istanbul University Press 2022-06-01
Series:Sosyal Siyaset Konferansları Dergisi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/355C1E9F8A8C4FF5B8EFF397DCE6A146
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849312307956416512
author Abdülkadir Şenkal
author_facet Abdülkadir Şenkal
author_sort Abdülkadir Şenkal
collection DOAJ
description The Great Transformation, published in 1944 by Karl Polanyi, brought a new dimension to the relationship between market, state, and welfare. Polanyi considered the relation between markets and societies as a central feature of any social order; according to him, while the market destabilizes society, the commodification of labor, land, and money creates a reaction or “counter-movement.” For this reason, he describes market society as being a dominant principle for social organization. Social relations are embedded within the economic system instead of the economy being embedded in social relations. Polanyi also claims that market society is a political and social construct rather than a natural phenomenon. Yet, the rapid growth of government bureaucracy and interference in the private sphere has challenged many traditional notions related to the nature of capitalist society, especially since the 1940s. Therefore, the state plays an important role in both the establishment and regulation of the private market economy. This article proposes an interpretation, in the context of the contemporary welfare state based on Polanyi’s The Great Transformation, which discusses the distinction between market, welfare, and labor. The institutions, that once contributed to embedding the market economy within society, now play an important role in situations that have potential consequences for those seeking help from the welfare state.
format Article
id doaj-art-0489bcda70f94b1191a04652ffeec859
institution Kabale University
issn 1304-0103
2548-0405
language English
publishDate 2022-06-01
publisher Istanbul University Press
record_format Article
series Sosyal Siyaset Konferansları Dergisi
spelling doaj-art-0489bcda70f94b1191a04652ffeec8592025-08-20T03:53:07ZengIstanbul University PressSosyal Siyaset Konferansları Dergisi1304-01032548-04052022-06-018213310.26650/jspc.2022.82.1019652123456Reading Social Policy from Polanyi’s Perspective: Problem of the Market, Wealth, and LaborAbdülkadir Şenkal0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5888-7474Kocaeli Üniversitesi, Kocaeli, TürkiyeThe Great Transformation, published in 1944 by Karl Polanyi, brought a new dimension to the relationship between market, state, and welfare. Polanyi considered the relation between markets and societies as a central feature of any social order; according to him, while the market destabilizes society, the commodification of labor, land, and money creates a reaction or “counter-movement.” For this reason, he describes market society as being a dominant principle for social organization. Social relations are embedded within the economic system instead of the economy being embedded in social relations. Polanyi also claims that market society is a political and social construct rather than a natural phenomenon. Yet, the rapid growth of government bureaucracy and interference in the private sphere has challenged many traditional notions related to the nature of capitalist society, especially since the 1940s. Therefore, the state plays an important role in both the establishment and regulation of the private market economy. This article proposes an interpretation, in the context of the contemporary welfare state based on Polanyi’s The Great Transformation, which discusses the distinction between market, welfare, and labor. The institutions, that once contributed to embedding the market economy within society, now play an important role in situations that have potential consequences for those seeking help from the welfare state.https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/355C1E9F8A8C4FF5B8EFF397DCE6A146karl polanyisocial policywelfarelabordouble movement
spellingShingle Abdülkadir Şenkal
Reading Social Policy from Polanyi’s Perspective: Problem of the Market, Wealth, and Labor
Sosyal Siyaset Konferansları Dergisi
karl polanyi
social policy
welfare
labor
double movement
title Reading Social Policy from Polanyi’s Perspective: Problem of the Market, Wealth, and Labor
title_full Reading Social Policy from Polanyi’s Perspective: Problem of the Market, Wealth, and Labor
title_fullStr Reading Social Policy from Polanyi’s Perspective: Problem of the Market, Wealth, and Labor
title_full_unstemmed Reading Social Policy from Polanyi’s Perspective: Problem of the Market, Wealth, and Labor
title_short Reading Social Policy from Polanyi’s Perspective: Problem of the Market, Wealth, and Labor
title_sort reading social policy from polanyi s perspective problem of the market wealth and labor
topic karl polanyi
social policy
welfare
labor
double movement
url https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/355C1E9F8A8C4FF5B8EFF397DCE6A146
work_keys_str_mv AT abdulkadirsenkal readingsocialpolicyfrompolanyisperspectiveproblemofthemarketwealthandlabor