Keynes wrote the General Theory to save capitalism from fascism and socialism

Evidence

One would begin with Joan Robinson, then proceed up through Axel Leijonhufvud and Robert Clower, and then to the French Regulationist school. Robert Lucas more or less agrees with this point: “I think that in writing the General Theory, Keynes was viewing himself as a spokesman for a discredited profession… . He was writing in a situation where people are ready to throw in the towel on capitalism and liberal democracy and go with fascism or corporatism, protectionism, socialist planning… . [Keynes] was a political activist from beginning to end. What he was concerned about when he wrote the General Theory was convincing people there was a way to deal with the Depression that was forceful and effective but didn’t involve scrapping the capitalist system” (“My Keynesian Education,” p. — Philip Mirowski, Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste, 2048

Categorization

• XREF: Keynes as savior-of-capitalism figures echoes the ‘thought collective’ theme and the idea that crisis-driven theory is politically motivated — connects to reader’s core interest in how neoliberal economics frames intellectual history. — connects to: Chicago economists in 1937 saw Keynes as a fascist threat. — Angus Burgin, The Great Persuasion: Reinventing Free…, 161; Britain’s 1931 protectionist shift drove Keynes to write his General Theory. — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 397; Gramsci’s imprisonment by fascism shaped his theory of the capitalist state (+3 more)

Broader Connections

• Britain’s 1931 protectionist shift drove Keynes to write his General Theory. #corroborates (0.78) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 397
• Gramsci’s imprisonment by fascism shaped his theory of the capitalist state #exemplifies (0.72)