Suchergebnisse

In a discussion of self-interest-based behavior, it is contended that the changing face of the political economy is reflected in emerging concepts of egoism. In standard Marxist, elitist, or public choice models of political systems, the motivation for any political action is self-interest. It is argued that the idea of individual self-interest is evolving as economic imperialism (which first created the concept) declines & is replaced by the new institutionalism. Reviewed here are both formal definitions of self-interest that exclude external political factors, & material definitions that focus on free choices & personal preference in political action. The centrality of self-interest in economic imperialist discourse is also examined, & revised versions of the self-interest concept -- eg, mixed motivation, indirect egoism, contextually contained egoism, & embedded egoism -- are explored. Neither extreme of direct egoism or political irrationality can replace the self-interest concept. 195 References. J. Sadler