Class struggle and state action: The case of the National Industrial Recovery Act. (Volumes I and II)

Chien Ju Huang, Purdue University

Abstract

This study builds an "institutional power struggle process" approach to contest the leading State theories' interpretations on the making and the implementation of the National Industrial Recovery Act. Taking insights from the class-centered and the state-centered approaches, this "institutional power struggle process" approach stresses the continuity of policy making and emphasizes four important stages of policy analysis: the policy background, its formation, legislation, and implementation processes. Special attention focuses on the role of the State, and the relationships between class structure, political organizations, State structure, and State decision-making, in a period of economic crisis. This approach argues that class struggle occurs not only outside the State, between and within classes and class fractions, it also occurs within the State, through State managers. The extent of class struggle within the State depends upon the compatibility of class interests with State managers' interests, and upon the organizational class capacity to mobilize and transform its interests through political parties, trade unions, and business associations. Furthermore, State managers are rational actors with bounded rationality who have interests of their own. Yet State managers' views and decision-making may also be weighted by their perceptions of existing social, economic, and political realities, by their positions in the State (i.e., as an agent of the State, either in the executive, legislative, or judiciary branch), by their party affiliations or class interests, and by the societal pressure, under particular socio-economic conditions.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Gottfried, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Labor relations|Public administration

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