It is about the Book "The Narrow Corridor - States, Societies and the Fate of Liberty" by Robinson and Acemoglu. I will show the main argument of them both and the three versions of Leviathans they describe. At the end there is an attempt to compare their understanding of liberty with that of Buchanan.
Drawing inspiration from John Locke's definition of Liberty, the paper explores the link to Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan and the three versions presented by Acemoglu and Robinson. Highlighting the fragility of Liberty, the paper emphasizes the challenge of reaching and maintaining the narrow corridor where Liberty flourishes.
An additional chapter focuses on James Buchanan's perspective on freedom, derived from his book "The Limits of Liberty – between anarchy and Leviathan" (1975). The primary goal is to establish connections between Acemoglu and Robinson's arguments and Buchanan's views on Liberty, exploring both similarities and differences. The concluding chapter summarizes the main arguments, emphasizing the shared goal and significant similarities between Acemoglu and Robinson's concept of Liberty and Buchanan's perspective. The paper concludes by addressing potential differences in the distribution of roles between the state and society in both approaches. Despite potential variances, both perspectives share common goals and essential similarities.
Table of Contents
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The main argument
- 3 The three versions of the Leviathan
- 3.1 Absent Leviathan
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to connect the arguments of Acemoglu and Robinson's concept of liberty, as detailed in "The Narrow Corridor," with James Buchanan's perspective on liberty, as presented in "The Limits of Liberty." It will explore similarities and differences between these perspectives, particularly regarding the roles of the state and society in achieving liberty.
- The concept of liberty as a delicate balance of power between state and society.
- The different versions of the Leviathan (Absent, Shackled, Despotic) and their implications for liberty.
- The role of the Red Queen effect in maintaining a balance of power and achieving liberty.
- The challenges of reaching and maintaining the "narrow corridor" of liberty.
- The impact of predatory elites on the development of a shackled Leviathan.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This introductory chapter lays the groundwork for the paper by introducing Acemoglu and Robinson's concept of liberty as presented in "The Narrow Corridor." It establishes the connection to Thomas Hobbes' Leviathan, previewing the analysis of the three Leviathan versions presented in the book and the central theme of liberty's fragility. The chapter sets the stage for comparing Acemoglu and Robinson's perspective with that of James Buchanan, highlighting the paper's goal of identifying similarities and differences in their approaches to the roles of state and society in achieving liberty.
2 The main argument: This chapter delves into Acemoglu and Robinson's core argument concerning liberty as a precarious balance of power between the state and society. It introduces Philip Pettit's definition of liberty as non-dominance and connects this to Hobbes' Leviathan, emphasizing the need for a powerful state to prevent anarchy but cautioning against a state that becomes overly dominant. The chapter introduces the concept of the "narrow corridor" of liberty, achievable only through a constant competition (the Red Queen effect) between state and society, illustrating the precarious nature of this balance and the significant effort required to achieve and maintain it. The chapter also touches upon the dangers of a state that dominates society (despotism) and a society that becomes trapped in a "cage of norms," hindering progress and innovation. Examples are given to support the arguments. It highlights the importance of a strong society to check the power of the state, preventing the state from becoming tyrannical while also preventing societal stagnation caused by excessive norms and rules.
3 The three versions of the Leviathan: This chapter begins the exploration of the different versions of the Leviathan. The focus is on the Absent Leviathan, characterized by a weak or nonexistent state, using the example of the Tiv tribe in Nigeria. This section explains how the Tiv's fear of a strong state, coupled with a lack of institutions to control powerful individuals, results in a society unable to restrain powerful figures and maintain stability. The chapter explores the challenges of transitioning from a strong society to a shackled Leviathan, highlighting distrust as a major obstacle to establishing effective institutions and a stable state. The case study of the Tiv illustrates how the absence of a powerful, yet accountable, state contributes to societal instability and the inability to establish a stable and just political system. The inherent risk-aversion of society concerning state power is presented as a crucial impediment in the establishment of a balanced political system.
Keywords
Liberty, state, society, Leviathan, Red Queen effect, non-dominance, narrow corridor, Acemoglu and Robinson, James Buchanan, predatory elites, Shackled Leviathan, Absent Leviathan, balance of power, political institutions, social norms.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview
What is the main topic of this text?
This text provides a comprehensive overview of a paper analyzing the concepts of liberty, the state, and society, drawing upon the theories of Acemoglu and Robinson ("The Narrow Corridor") and James Buchanan ("The Limits of Liberty"). It focuses on the delicate balance of power required to achieve liberty, using the metaphor of Hobbes' Leviathan and its variations (Absent, Shackled, and Despotic).
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include the definition of liberty (particularly non-dominance), the role of the state and society in maintaining liberty, the "narrow corridor" concept representing a precarious balance of power, the Red Queen effect as a driver of this balance, the challenges of establishing and maintaining effective political institutions, and the negative impact of predatory elites.
What are the different versions of the Leviathan discussed?
The text explores three versions of Hobbes' Leviathan: The Absent Leviathan (a weak or nonexistent state, illustrated by the Tiv tribe in Nigeria), the Shackled Leviathan (a state constrained by a strong society), and implicitly, the Despotic Leviathan (an overly powerful state dominating society).
How does the "Red Queen effect" relate to liberty?
The Red Queen effect refers to the constant competition between the state and society necessary to maintain the precarious balance of power required for liberty. Neither the state nor society can become overly dominant without jeopardizing liberty.
What is the "narrow corridor" of liberty?
The "narrow corridor" represents the delicate and challenging path between a weak state (leading to anarchy) and an overly powerful state (leading to despotism). Maintaining liberty requires navigating this narrow path through constant adaptation and competition between state and society.
How do Acemoglu and Robinson's and Buchanan's perspectives compare?
The paper aims to compare and contrast the perspectives of Acemoglu and Robinson and James Buchanan on liberty, specifically focusing on the roles of the state and society in achieving and maintaining it, identifying both similarities and differences in their approaches.
What role do predatory elites play?
Predatory elites are presented as a significant threat to the establishment and maintenance of a balanced political system, often contributing to the development of a "Shackled Leviathan" where the state is weak and ineffective due to the influence of powerful individuals or groups.
What is the significance of the Tiv tribe example?
The Tiv tribe in Nigeria serves as a case study illustrating the consequences of an Absent Leviathan – a weak or nonexistent state. Their experience highlights how the lack of a strong, accountable state can lead to societal instability and the inability to restrain powerful individuals.
What are the key takeaways from the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries provide a concise overview of the paper's argumentation: the introduction establishes the context and research question, the main argument focuses on the delicate balance of power, and the chapter on the three versions of the Leviathan provides case studies illustrating the consequences of different balances of power between state and society.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Keywords include Liberty, state, society, Leviathan, Red Queen effect, non-dominance, narrow corridor, Acemoglu and Robinson, James Buchanan, predatory elites, Shackled Leviathan, Absent Leviathan, balance of power, political institutions, and social norms.
- Citation du texte
- Asim Mahmud (Auteur), 2019, Liberty in "The Narrow Corridor" compared to Liberty by Buchanan, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1004256
