Pollock treated state capitalism as an ideal-typical model spanning Nazi and American varieties.

Evidence

Pollock’s theory of state capitalism ‘as a superior form of society to liberal capitalism’ is presented as a ‘model’ ‘in the sense of Max Weber’s “ideal type”’. This model ‘represents a consequent systematisation of trends [Pollock] believes to recognise particularly in National Socialism, but also in the United States’, respective manifestations of the ‘two most typical varieties’ of state capitalism: ‘its totalitarian and its democratic form’. — Dirk Braunstein, Adorno’s Critique of Political Economy, 525

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines Pollock’s state-capitalism model as a Weberian ideal type with totalitarian and democratic poles — the core concept this chapter works from.
• XREF: Connects to Weber’s ideal-type methodology and the Frankfurt School’s use of models; also resonates with earlier Milgrom discussions of institutional ideal types. — connects to: Pollock argued the Nazis had destroyed private property’s essential features — Martin Jay, The Dialectical Imagination: A History…, 488; Pollock’s state capitalism theory erased class antagonisms in favor of purely political rulers — Dirk Braunstein, Adorno’s Critique of Political Economy, 599; Pollock saw capitalist planned economy as viable as socialism by 1930s — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 484 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Pollock’s state capitalism theory erased class antagonisms in favor of purely political rulers #expands (0.82) — Dirk Braunstein, Adorno’s Critique of Political Economy, 599