THE STATE, CAPITALISM, AND WORLD-WAR-2 - THE UNITED-STATES CASE Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • In recent years interesting debates have centered on the relationship of the state to modern capitalism. This article examines the utility of two major theories of the state in interpreting the unparalleled U.S. industrial mobilization between 1939 and 1945, which involved massive state expenditures and the creation or expansion of state agencies supervising production. While aspects of the state-autonomy theory are confirmed in the data, the instrumentalist view of the state appeared to be of greatest utility in interpreting state-capital relations. Recent theoretical arguments by Theda Skocpol and Fred Block about the centrality of independent state decision makers in U.S. policymaking are contradicted by the pervasive and central role of capitalists in state policymaking about wartime economic mobilization and production. Renewed attention to the role of capitalist decision makers is warranted in light of their widespread control during this period of distinctive state bureaucratic growth and dominance.

published proceedings

  • ARMED FORCES & SOCIETY

author list (cited authors)

  • FEAGIN, J. R., & RIDDELL, K.

citation count

  • 4

complete list of authors

  • FEAGIN, JR||RIDDELL, K

publication date

  • October 1990