Neocorporatism and Political Protest in the Western Democracies: A Cross-National Analysis

Abstract

The hypothesis that neocorporatism reduces social protest by decreasing the gap between societal demands & state capacities is tested through cross-national analysis of data for the 18 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development, 1948-1982. A pluralist depiction of social protest attributes increasing levels of social disruption to the growth of powerful special interest groups, increased societal demands, & the inability of government to address these demands effectively. In contrast, neocorporatist states reduce social protest through the development of an institutionalized bargaining system that mediates social demands & government capacities. However, this classical neocorporatist theory is supplemented by the hypothesis that neocorporatist states reduce social protest through increased economic performance & decreased economic inequality, which facilitate the resolution of societal demands with government capacities. Analysis suggests that neocorporatist states also lessen protest through the direct suppression of militant protest groups. The reduction of social protest was most notable in fully developed neocorporatist states, & strong Left parties & economic globalization strongly correlated with neocorporatism. 6 Tables, 6 Figures, 1 Appendix. T. Sevier