State Intervention and Civil Society: Achieving Social Justice and Economic Stability

Posted on Nov 1, 2025 in Social sciences

Foundations of the Liberal and Democratic State of Law

The transition from a liberal state of law to a liberal and democratic state of law is characterized by several key principles:

  • Constitutionalism: Establishing fundamental laws and principles.
  • Separation of Powers: Ensuring the executive, legislative, and judicial branches are independent and mutually regulated.
  • Public Participation: Allowing citizen involvement in the operation of these aforementioned powers (e.g., elections, juries).

This evolution led to the appearance of universal suffrage, majority rule, and the representative system.

State Goals and Responsibilities Regarding Civil Society

Civil society, whether considered a commercial entity or a set of requirements, necessitates state action to fulfill essential functions:

  1. Resolving Conflicts of Interest (Adam Smith)

    The State should limit its activities to facilitate production, enforce order, protect property, and ensure peace both internally and externally.

  2. Organizing and Providing Social Progress (Hegel)

    Without state intervention, civil society tends toward the accumulation of wealth by some and dependency and misery by others. It is often unable to organize itself and requires the State to ensure the common interest and public good.

The State’s Increasingly Active Role in Civil Society

To address these goals (often viewed as challenges), the state has assumed a more active role in civil society, primarily driven by two objectives:

  1. Achieving Equality of Opportunity (Social Justice)

    This involves expanding progressive social services (such as education, health, protection for old age or unemployment) and redistributing wealth through tax policy.

  2. Ensuring Economic System Effectiveness and Stability

    This requires avoiding tendencies toward crisis by implementing measures such as:

    • Increasing production and expanding domestic demand (full employment policies).
    • Directing consumption through fiscal policy.
    • Creation of public enterprises.
    • Subsidies to private companies.
    • Increased public spending.