MAKING SENSE OF CONSERVATISM IN THE ECONOMY WITH A LOOK AT THE AMERICAN CASE BY THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 5 Sayı: 1, 23 - 37, 03.05.2025

Hakan Köni

https://doi.org/10.59597/akademikaci.1649001

Öz

This article is devoted to the exploration of the origins and major characteristics of economic conservatism with the examination of the ideas and teachings of medieval and later religious scholars in the Christian and the Muslim world, propositions of mercantilism as an economic currency of thought, and ideas and practices of conservative political movements and personalities in the US by the early 20th century. Medieval and modern religious scholars almost commonly agreed on the importance of labor and production, private property and commerce, an active state, taxation of the wealth, and free determination of the prices in the market. And they equally disapproved black-marketing, speculation, interest, usury, monopolization, luxury and acquisition of wealth by unethical ways generally. Mercantilism transmitted to economic conservatism the practices and campaigns of an economically powerful and active state, positive trade balance, and national politico-economic development initiatives particularly. Conservatives in the US in the specified period adopted quite some of the propositions and practices above, but conservatism took a more solid and sophisticated shape with their endeavors and achievements towards the establishment of the economic unity of the country, extensive social policy programs, breaking of the influence of uncontrolled bourgeoisie, inhibition of plutocratic political formations, and rejuvenation of traditional agrarian life.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Economic Conservatism , Religious Economic Thought , Mercantilism , Economic Conservatism in the US

İktisadi muhafazakarlığı anlamak ve 20. yüzyıl başlarına kadar Amerikan örneğine bakış

Öz

Makale, klasik dönem Hristiyan ve İslam dünyasının önde gelen din adamlarının ve düşünürlerinin düşünce ve öğretilerine, iktisadi bir düşünce ekolü olarak merkantilizme, ve 20. yüzyıl başlarına kadar ABD’de varlık göstermiş siyasi hareket ve şahsiyetlerin iktisadi hayata ilişkin düşünce ve uygulamalarına referansla iktisadi muhafazakarlığın kökenlerini ve temel özelliklerini keşfetme çabası gütmektedir. Klasik dönem Hristiyan ve Müslüman din adamları birbirleriyle benzer bir şekilde iktisadi hayatta çalışma ve üretimi, özel mülkiyet ve ticareti, etkin bir devletin varlığını, servetin vergilendirilmesini ve piyasada fiyatların serbestçe belirlenmesini destekler durumdaydı. Yine benzer şekilde karaborsacılık, spekülatörlük, faiz, tefecilik, tekelcilik, lüks ve genel olarak ahlaki olmayan yollarla servet edinme hoş karşılanmamış ve yasaklanmıştı. Merkantilizm, iktisadi muhafazakarlığa özellikle iktisadi olarak aktif ve güçlü devlet, pozitif ticaret dengesi, ulusal iktisadi ve siyasi kalkınma düşünce ve icraatlarını miras bırakmıştır. 20. yüzyıl başlarına kadar incelenen Amerikan muhafazakarlığı, yukarıdaki dini ve merkantilist çizgiyi büyük oranda benimsemiş, bu çizgiyi bir yandan ulusal iktisadi birlik ve koordinasyonunun sağlanması, kapsamlı refah devleti politikalarının benimsenmesi, geleneksel tarım hayatının korunması, diğer yandan da kontrolsüz kapitalizmin, eğitimsiz burjuvazinin ve plütokratik hükümetlerin etkisinin kırılmasına yönelik icraatlerle geliştirmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

İktisadi Muhafazakarlık , Dini İktisadi Düşünce , Merkantilizm , ABD’de İktisadi Muhafazakarlık

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