Abstract
A vast literature has accumulated on the developmental state since its introduction to scholarship in the 1980s. Despite many criticisms, developmental state is still the most viable alternative to the orthodoxy in the eyes of many. This article analytically investigates the sources of pessimism and optimism in the building of 21st century developmental states. The study notes that although there are sound reasons to be pessimistic regarding the emergence of successful cases in the new millennium, there are also reasonable grounds to be optimistic. A complex dynamic within and between domestic and international spheres determines the outcome, but there is no reason to disregard prematurely or embrace indisputably the developmental state construct.
Highlights
Even though a more thorough understanding of the Asian bureaucracies leads to optimism, a closer look at how states function may lead to pessimism
Since the 2008 global economic crisis, scholarly focus on the developmental state has intensified greatly; policy-makers’ discourse on developmentalism has become stronger; and many countries have undertaken concrete steps reflecting their developmental ambitions. This can be a source of optimism for the proponents of the 21st century developmental states
Numerous initiatives including the establishment of BRICS, discussions on the abandonment of the dollar as the foremost reserve currency, and the New Development Bank all strive for more share and representation in the current system without two things: too much dependence on the United States (US) and assuming a self-defeating role in global governance
Summary
One crucial question that is continuously discussed in the scholarship concerns the generalizability of the Asian models. It can be argued that the developmental state framework is not adequate to understand how the state operates and falls short of explaining economic performance Another important issue that is highly relevant for developmental state success concerns political will and incentive structures to launch national development projects. Politicians are urged to implement visionary policies in the simultaneous existence of external security threats, scarce resources at home, and massive domestic unrest risk (Doner, Ritchie, and Slater 2005) There is another issue linked to politics. Many large developing countries have begun to play a more active and assertive role in international politics This can create the necessary policy space for the Global South to pursue a developmentalist agenda.
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