The metaphysical Ordo ideal resisted translation into concrete postwar political programs

Evidence

But a number of problems arose as to how this general idea could be translated into concrete political concepts. A few cornerstones of Eucken’s Ordo ideas, such as an estate model of social stratification, elite rather than mass influence with regard to political decision making, protection and expansion of private property, and decentralization and subsidiarity as primary principles for the political and social structure, can be readily recognized in terms of basic doctrine. … Ordoliberalism was challenged to bridge the gap between utopian ideals and the sordid facts on the ground, even when the facts were so unpleasant that many preferred to be dreamers. — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 511

Categorization

• XREF: The utopia-versus-grounded-facts tension parallels the general problem of liberal idealism in the Mont Pèlerin network. — connects to: Postwar German intellectual reconstruction proposals paired technocratic and cultural-visionary programs — Rolf Wiggershaus, The Frankfurt School: Its History,…, 1679; Logical positivism began as an egalitarian political and social program — Dieter Plehwe, Quinn Slobodian & Philip Mirowski (eds.), Nine Lives of Neoliberalism, 59; The ordoliberal Ordo concept legitimized a hierarchical social order as natural and irrevocable — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin: The Making…, 510 (+1 more)

Broader Connections

• Müller-Armack turned ordoliberal theory into a political implementation strategy #contradicts (0.78) — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 553